1. Men’s Health and Wellbeing Seminar
CONNECT for WELL BEING
Men’s Health and Wellbeing Seminar
11 November 2014
La Mon Hotel
Castlereagh
Bill Lockhart

2. Holywood Men’s Shed Irish Men’s Shed Association (IMSA)
My Story

3. First Project - Building Community Fruit Press

4. Fruit Press near completion

5. The Old Stable Yard in Redburn Forest Park

6. The Stable Yard September 14

7. Dismantling donated shed

8. Help from Transport Regiment to move shed

9. Shed in location in Stable Yard

10. Visit to woodcraft exhibition

11. Visit of Meath Mens’ Sheds to Titanic Exhibition

12. Having lunch together in Holywood.
Having lunch together in Holywood

13. Irish Men’s Sheds Association: Background
2009 1sr shed in Ireland opened
May 2012 – 55 sheds
September sheds
November 2013 – 170 sheds
November sheds and growing!

14. Q1 WHO participates in men’s sheds, for what reason and what outcomes?
Key Questions
Q1 WHO participates in men’s sheds, for what reason and what outcomes?
Q2 What shapes attitudes of older men towards learning beyond the workplace?
Q3 How does participation in learning in sheds affect well-being of older men?
Q4 Should we create dedicated men’s learning spaces and programmes for older men in Ireland?

15. Research carried out by Dr Lucia Carragher (2013) The Netwell Centre, School of Health and Social Science, Dundalk.
Used a national sample of Irish men’s Sheds
Used both qualitative and quantitative methods
Two surveys: one collected data on participation (who, why and what outcomes?)
In depth focus group interviews
Comparable with Australian research (Golding et al and 2009)

16. Results: Participant questionnaires returned (n=347)
Incomplete questionnaires excluded (n-50)
Response rate: 65.2%

17. Who participates in Men’s Sheds?
70% aged 50 or over
18% aged years
10% under 30 years
55% are retired and in receipt of pension
15 % are employed

18. Who participates in Men’s Sheds by education background?
Primary school (21%)
Lower secondary school (18%)
Upper secondary school (9%)
Technical qualification (20%)
Diploma or equivalent(15%)
Degree or above (15%)
45% are current or former qualified tradesmen

19. For what reason?
Primarily for male company
All experiencing life transitions ( retired or made redundant)
“ To get out of the house” reported by 91%
Economic motivation not a main reason but 34% hoped to get more paid work.

20. With what outcomes?
100% reported enjoying the social aspect
99% reported the freedom of participating when they want
91% reported improved wellp-being
74% said that it made them feel happier at home
“.. You’ll get a man who’ll say I’m taking such and such a tablet and you will saying I’m taking the same. And he’ll say what are you taking them for? Once it starts…”

21. More Outcomes
Few participants reported having a positive educational experience in school but…
Over 75% are more engaged and eager to access further learning in a shed.
“ .. I always had the interest in woodwork but I didn’t have the machinery to do much and the opportunity is here and I want to develop that”.

22. Summary
Two Core Strengths
Social aspect
Hands on practical activities
Helping with life transitions
Combatting social isolation
Addressing poor mental health
Maintaining health
Sharing and developing skills
Having a sense of control

23. risk factor for disease out there. Nothing can compete.”
“We typically think of stress as being a risk factor for disease,” said Cole , “We typically think of stress as being a risk factor for disease,” said Cole. “And it is, somewhat. But if you actually measure stress, using our best available instruments, it can’t hold a candle to social isolation. Social isolation is the best-established, most robust social or psychological
risk factor for disease out there. Nothing can compete.”
Quote from Steve Cole UCLA School of Medicine in “The Social Life of Genes” Pacific Standard September 13.
ng our
best available instruments, it can’t hold a candle to social isolation.
Social isolation is the best-established, most robust social or psychological

24. This helps explain, for instance, why many people who work in high-stress but rewarding jobs don’t seem to suffer ill effects,while others, particularly those isolated and in poverty, wind up accruing lists of stress-related diagnoses—obesity, Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, atherosclerosis, heart failure, stroke. Despite these well-known effects, Cole said he was amazed when he started finding that social connectivity wrought such powerful effects on gene expression.

25. ly 22,000 genes in the human genome,
Of roughly 22,000 genes in the human genome, the lonely and not-lonely groups showed sharply different gene-expression responses in 209. That meant that about one percent of the genome—a considerable portion—was responding differently depending on whether a person felt alone or connected.
ly 22,000 genes in the human genome,
the lonely and not-lonely groups showed sharply
different gene-expression responses in 209.
That meant that about one percent of the
genome—a considerable portion—was
responding differently depending on whether a person
felt alone or connected.