Men’s Health Week 2021
Shout out to Men of all ages – Men’s Sheds can Improve Your Health!
This week is Men’s Health Week and throughout the week the Tasmanian Men’s Shed Association (TMSA) will highlight the health benefits associated in joining a Men’s Shed.
Men in Australia die an average of 6 years younger than women. Men’s health is shaped not only by lifestyle choices, the health status of males in Tasmania is generally poorer than that of females.
More males die at every stage through the life course, more males have accidents, more males take their own lives and more males suffer from lifestyle-related health conditions than females at the same age.
Men are less frequent visitors to General Practitioners and the perception is they don’t care about health or that health services are not prepared to interact with men effectively.
It’s well known that men communicate in ‘their own way’ and are more likely to open up about health related issues with a group of men while they are working away at a Men’s Shed or having a chat around the table at morning tea time with mates. Men’s Sheds play a pivotal role in providing a place where men feel comfortable talking about ‘their stuff’ with other men - in an informal environment.
TMSA’s President David Seen said -
‘While the perception maybe that Men’s Sheds are about men making things in their local shed, it’s much more than that. Our Sheds play an important role in their communities and provide places where men can get together, have a chat, overcome loneliness and isolation and also transition from working life into retirement.
There are many Tasmanian men, especially in regional areas that find themselves isolated for any number of reasons and we now know how damaging loneliness can be for our health. There’s 63 Sheds in Tasmania and the need for places for men to find purpose and mateship is on the rise, with another four sheds likely to be up and running before the end of the year’.
During this week in particular, I encourage Tasmanian men to think about dropping in to their local Men’s Shed – you never know, it could change your life.’ Mr Seen said.
Note: A local gathering will be opened on Tuesday morning by Acting Glenorchy Mayor Bec Thomas at the Claremont Men’s Shed at 10.30, 15 Main Road, (off Boxhill Rd) on the village green, Claremont.
Please find below links to our Men’s Health Week TVC’s and Radio commercials which are available for use.
For media enquiries call:
Wendy Kennedy - TMSA Executive Officer
0438100446
David Seen - TMSA President
0418557361