Echuca Moama Men's Shed helping local men improve their health

For Echuca Moama Men’s Shed president Peter Graham, the experience is personal.

If it hadn’t been for the shed, Mr Graham did not know how he would have gotten out of a “very dark place”.

“All of a sudden through talking to someone about it you realise a lot of members have been through similar or worse situations than you and have come out the other side,” he said.

“I totally thank the men’s shed for helping me.”

Now, as president of the community organisation, Mr Graham is helping other local men improve their health and wellbeing.

He said the main issues facing their members is loneliness and inactivity.

“I get lots of ladies ringing me about their husbands and say, ‘all he does is sit on the couch and watch TV all day’, Mr Graham said.

Something he said he’s been guilty of personally during lockdown.

“The whole idea is to build friendships and give members support and help if they need it.

“It’s proven that once they go from sitting around all day to circulating back in the community, they start to feel better within themselves.”

“One of our members stopped coming along so we contacted a mate of his and found out he had depression and couldn’t be bothered,” he said.

“We coaxed him back and he was 100 per cent better in the end and regularly attends now, it really worked for him.”

Mr Graham said he walks past conversations about mental health each day at the shed.

“Sometimes men prefer to talk out their problems with other blokes rather than their wives or family,” he said.

Echuca Moama Men’s Shed recently raised its member cap to 70 and Mr Graham thinks they’ll be “flat chat” with people wanting to join after such a long period of isolation.

The shed will re-open on Tuesday under “limited circumstances” after closing its doors nearly two months ago due to coronavirus restrictions.

Dr Cara Tucker from Echuca’s Thrive Wellness and Counselling helps men work through issues with their mental health and said there are certain things to look out for.

“Things like quick frustration or a “chip on his shoulder” for men, and if they’re not keeping up with hygiene or lose interest in intimacy,” she said.

Dr Tucker said there are several issues that can lead to poor mental health.

“Internalising feelings, thinking “I’ve got it” or “I don’t want to burden people with my problems.”

She also said a physical injury can “prompt a secondary injury of mental health”.

According to Western Sydney University, men are three times more likely to commit suicide than females.

“The emotions build up for a long period of time and can lead to a very specific plan to actually end life,” Dr Tucker said.

She also said substance use, generational trauma and non-communicative environments were also to blame for the higher suicide rate.

Despite less services in country areas compared to bigger cities, men can still find support through Lifeline, men’s health line, GP’s or counsellors.

However, the week isn’t just about mental health. The Rural Doctors Association of Australia is calling on all blokes to book a health check with their local doctor.

“Make an appointment for a check, whether it be for general health, prostate, skin or heart disease, or to talk about a specific health concern you might have,” RDAA president Dr John Hall said.

“Just like your ute or tractor, you aren’t going to run as well if you don’t get a regular service” he said.

“Now is the time to book in for a check-up, so you can work on some of those areas that might need lifestyle modifications – and help you avoid your engine clogging up or the rust setting in.”