Men's Sheds: A Study of Health, Wellbeing, and Social Determinants

This essay examines the Men's Sheds intervention, a gendered approach originating in Australia, designed to improve men's health and wellbeing. It explores how Men's Sheds provide a safe and supportive environment for men to engage in purposeful activities, fostering social connections and skill-sharing. The essay highlights the importance of addressing men's health issues, often overlooked in public health literature, and how Men's Sheds can combat social isolation, mental health challenges, and unhealthy behaviors prevalent among men, especially unemployed and retired individuals. It also discusses the social determinants influencing the success of Men's Sheds, such as location, activities, resources, and the comfort level of participants, emphasizing the potential of this community-based model to improve men's lives by promoting social bonds, physical health, and a sense of purpose. The essay concludes that Men's Sheds offer a valuable secondary health and engagement space for men, particularly those reluctant to access formal healthcare, and can be a life-changing alternative for those struggling with depression, addiction, and other health issues.

Health and Well-
being

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................3
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................4

INTRODUCTION
Although, it has been considered that males have lower life expectancy as compare to
women, and also more likely to susceptible to acute or chronic illness. Studies observed that
males are consider to be little interested in health seeking pattern. (Men's Sheds: A conceptual
exploration of the causal pathways for health and well-being, 2019) A gendered intervention,
which is also known as Men's Sheds movement launched within Australia in the 1980s, that have
further enlarged within states as well as countries such as UK, Ireland and so on. This
intervention is determine as effective way, which can facilitate in engaging men under
meaningful activities and attain vulnerable social support for other individuals. (Beyer, Lynch
and Kaner, 2018) This essay highly understanding that can facilitate to develop a credible of
theory how Men's Sheds intervention influence the health and well being of the individuals who
participate in a group. And also, it underpins social determinants that may influence the
implementation as well as failure of Men's Sheds intervention.
MAIN BODY
Males in Sheds has been reviewed in the several of studies within systematic review as an
methodology or intervention which can provide a safe and secure for males to take part in
purposeful physical activities, primarily in regards with woodwork. It works on voluntary basis.
These interesting activities can be performed in individual or collaborative manner. It can help
individual to foster their learning and sharing skills and also these activities are mutually decided
by the Shed's coordinators with men in regards with participant volunteers rather than asking
from clients. (Cislaghi and et. al., 2019) As per the report, due to association of males with
harmful practices usually men an their health factors are specifically overview as a public health
issue which is being under-observed within multiple literature in regards with health
improvement factors. Meanwhile, studies also concluded evidence base case study of gender
base prevention interventions which are for determined for females, there are few studies that
represents studies which are in respect male's specific health interventions (Men's Sheds: A
conceptual exploration of the causal pathways for health and well-being, 2019). Globally, it has
been analysed that males do have been discovered to debits worsen as well as poor health and
lower life expectancy as compared to females, along with high range of susceptibility to acute
illness as well as mortality. The chronic illness which men usually suffer with cardiovascular

disease at older age, consumption of alcohol, use of substance and also poor mental health and
also apart from these health concerning factors, they are also found to be have higher suicidal
rates in mostly in men who are unemployed and retired men. Unemployed and retired men
usually prefer social isolation as well loneliness. The reason of this social isolation can be relate
to decay of work can come with less interaction with co-workers, individualized networks, social
support and autonomy as well (Men's Sheds: A conceptual exploration of the causal pathways
for health and well-being, 2019).
Moreover, apart from acute to illness, males are determined as fewer to engage in health
seeking activity of health services as compared to females, they are also involved in practices
which associated with risk factors such as consumption of large alcohol in large amount. It has
been discovered that men less expressive and they suffer with stress, which promotes them to
encounter acute mental illness, such as Depression, Anxieties, Hypertension and others, and they
are more likely delay attaining services for mental health complications i.e. therapy, counselling
and in some cases fear for scrutiny in regards with their masculinity (Greenand et. al., 2020).
As per the studies, men are frequently classified as tough to range audience for
blockading health measures as well as harm reduction. Researchers in UK, debits proved the
affirmative signs in the health factors of males, which has been refer gender sensitive health
interventions like sports programme for men (Men's Sheds: A conceptual exploration of the
causal pathways for health and well-being, 2019). But, the policies of UK as well practices has
not yet able to engage the ideology of male biology, their individualized attitudes and behaviour
which needs to consider in order to develop health interventions which are more male friendly in
nature.
In order to address these health related issues one potential solution which can be
underpin is Men's Shed Model. It is a community based movement, which provide high response
to the range of concern about male's health factors. The Sheds are associated with practical
communal spaces, typical workshops areas which are structured in a way that can provide ample
of opportunities for men to participate in the meaningful social as well as recreational activities,
that can also help in encouraging skill sharing and can show unstructured atmosphere.(Kellyand
et. al., 2019) Shed's are also determined to be highly particular supportive which provides a
socially acceptable masculine atmosphere for men in order to achieve socialisation capacities,
also can be able to increase a awareness of male identity and also relations and belonging with

their other males. (Men’s Sheds and other gendered interventions for older men: improving
health and well being through social activity A systematic review and scoping of the evidence
base, 2013) The considerate opportunities to give ability to the community that can contribute to
the individual's knowingness of accomplishment, value as well as altruism. This model can foster
sense of camaraderie particularly in old age groups of men, who have encounter underfoot
syndrome.
The evidence-based study shows that community Shed can be considered as life changing
alternative for some men in UK. (Men’s Sheds and other gendered interventions for older men:
improving health and well being through social activity A systematic review and scoping of the
evidence base, 2013) As it helped in the recovery from acute depression, consumption of alcohol
or drug addiction. Studies conclude that Shed has become stepping stone for their depression, it
helped them to get back to the appropriate track and made them to come out of their shells and
also made them to get socialize with others. Also individuals who were suffering from risk
factors of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, post-traumatic stress syndrome, males with risk
factors associated with dementia, men with disabilities, brain injury within residential care have
experienced as positive, therapeutic, educative as well as transformative. (Kingdon, 2020)
Within the studies it has been considered Shed interventions with individuals suffering from
early stage of dementia can be helpful, as it creates sense of belonging and wanted that can help
them to ease their stress and also stress causing factors for period of time . (Men’s Sheds and
other gendered interventions for older men: improving health and well being through social
activity A systematic review and scoping of the evidence base, 2013)
The Men in Sheds movement has attained a great momentum over the past 20 years.
Studies concluded that this secondary health and engagement space has been supply to males
who may be reluctant can be able access formal healthcare. (Men's Sheds: A conceptual
exploration of the causal pathways for health and well-being, 2019). Particularly those
individuals who are dealing with issues in respect to mental health complications, unemployment
or negative life alternatives as well. As it has been observed top be effective for mainly older
people, retired men and those who are not been employed. (Men’s Sheds and other gendered
interventions for older men: improving health and well being through social activity A
systematic review and scoping of the evidence base, 2013) Shed can facilitate them by providing
maintenance of work life routine as well as a strong sense of purpose and to combat a factor

known as social isolation. As the links which are in between health and well-being outcomes are
not well documented and also the presented evidence termed to debits lacks in respect to the
direction of causality within activities of Shed and potential resultant health outcomes.
Reports state that the activities of Shed can be beneficial in the several factors. The study
present that it facilitate the condition of space for considered factors such asm socialisation and
interaction predominately promoted ample of opportunities for all members of Shed in order to
improvise their interaction skills with others and also expand social network by meeting other
new people.
There are long term benefits which can be provided by this health intervention that are as
follows: it can increase social bonds, quality of relations, motivation to leave the house or
maintain a daily routine, promotes feelings of relaxation, contentment, safety, improve physical
health and morbidity, reduce sense of frailty, respite individual's personnel issues, pressure,
response, increasing health seeking, improvement prevailed in behaviours, prevention in
antisocial behaviour and also re-offering and others.
Moreover, an individual can also termed to increase the sense of purpose as well as
meaning to their life, promote happiness and enjoyment, sense of confidence and self-esteem,
pride and achievement, it can help in decreasing the social isolationist and loneliness as well as
social avoidance, promotes feelings of identification, value, self-worth, increased feelings of
inclusion. It has also proved to be effective inn minimising mental health complication such as
feeling of anxieties, stress, depression, thoughts of suicide as well. It has been determined as
effective intervention in the management of work life balance that can help males to manage
their work life along with their personal life.
Studies concluded that there are several social factors that are eligible to affect the
success of this interventions. (Kingdon, 2020) The social factors which can affect are as follows:
suitable location, a wide range of activities, extend opening hours, quality of support at local
basis, secure findings, availability of resources, business plan, execution plan, skills of members
of Sheds and management groups, opportunities for attain learning ad knowledge. As these
factors can termed to be beneficial in providing several prospects of learning of self management
in males. (Men’s Sheds and other gendered interventions for older men: improving health and
well being through social activity A systematic review and scoping of the evidence base, 2013)
Other social factors that can be affect the success of intervention which are individual's

comfortability level in atmosphere which has been provided by members of Shed, relations with
individuals who are attaining services and also determined purpose. There are factors which
promotes suitability of intervention.
As per the report, it has been determined that factors such as engagements and
continuation of participation in a Shed. It has been determined that person's characteristics such
as requirement to stay occupied, socialisation influence as well as loneliness that formulate the
impetus that has become conclude in a determined intervention Men's Shed at initial.
(Normanand and et. al., 2021) In this model attractive activities plays a significant role, which
help individuals to attract themselves. For that, social dimensions of Sheds has increased the
significance at once the initial fascinating activities wore off. To this date, none of these social
has been considered to be as best and effective practice. As per the studies identification it has
been recognised that inadequate infrastructure that is before inception can become a cause of
failure of this effective intervention. It has also outlined essential financial barriers to the
continuation of Men's Shed model.
CONCLUSION
Overall, It has been concluded that men have lower life expectancy. At older age, they
induce acute illness such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes,
cancer and so on. They are most likely to involve in habitats and practices which are associated
with multiple risk factors. Harmful practices such as consumption of alcohol, smoking practices
and other can lead men to deal with illnesses such as health related problems, breathing issues,
mental issues and so on. The Men Sheds intervention highly aims on the health improving
practices that can help individuals to cope up with their illnesses. Studies conclude that one of
the potential solution in respect to the men's health provision can be refer as Men's Shed model.
They are interlinked with practical communal spaces, typical workshops areas which are
structured in a way that can promote several opportunities for males in order to to take part in the
significant social and recreational activities as well as actions, that can also assist them in
encouraging skill sharing and can show unstructured atmosphere for them. The Sheds are proved
to be improvwe their quality of life.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Beyer, F., Lynch, E. and Kaner, E., 2018. Brief interventions in primary care: an evidence
overview of practitioner and digital intervention programmes. Current addiction reports, 5(2),
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Cislaghi, B., Denny, E.K., Cissé, M., Gueye, P., Shrestha, B., Shrestha, P.N., Ferguson, G.,
Hughes, C. and Clark, C.J., 2019. Changing social norms: the importance of “organized
diffusion” for scaling up community health promotion and women empowerment
interventions. Prevention Science, 20(6), pp.936-946.
Fung, K.P.L., Liu, J.J., Sin, R., Bender, A., Shakya, Y., Butt, N. and Wong, J.P.H., 2019.
Exploring mental illness stigma among Asian men mobilized to become Community Mental
Health Ambassadors in Toronto Canada. Ethnicity & health, pp.1-19.
Green, M.A., Watson, A.W., Brunstrom, J.M., Corfe, B.M., Johnstone, A.M., Williams, E.A.
and Stevenson, E., 2020. Comparing supermarket loyalty card data with traditional diet survey
data for understanding how protein is purchased and consumed in older adults for the UK,
2014–16. Nutrition journal, 19(1), pp.1-10.
Kelly, D., Steiner, A., Mason, H. and Teasdale, S., 2019. Men's Sheds: A conceptual exploration
of the causal pathways for health and well‐being. Health & social care in the
community, 27(5), pp.1147-1157.
Kingdon, D., 2020. Why hasn't neuroscience delivered for psychiatry?. BJPsych Bulletin, 44(3),
pp.107-109.
Norman, K., Chepulis, L., Burrows, L. and Lawrenson, R., 2021. Adult obesity management in
New Zealand general practice: a review. Journal of Primary Health Care.
Salgado-Orellana, N., Berrocal de Luna, E. and Sánchez-Núñez, C.A., 2019. Intercultural
education for sustainability in the educational interventions targeting the Roma student: A
systematic review. Sustainability, 11(12), p.3238.

Online Sources
Men's Sheds: A conceptual exploration of the causal pathways for health and well-being, 2019:
[Online] Available Through: <https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/hsc.12765>
Men’s Sheds and other gendered interventions for older men: improving health and wellbeing
through social activity A systematic review and scoping of the evidence base, 2013 [Online]
Available Through: <http://envejecimiento.csic.es/documentos/documentos/lancaster-ac-uk-
men-in-sheds2013-02-2015.pdf>