A Toronto Star podcast featuring Men’s Sheds and the role of community in men’s well-being:
Older men in Canada are at significantly higher risk of suicide — a reality that often receives far less attention than it deserves. Social isolation, loss of purpose after retirement, declining health, and reduced social networks all play a role. Yet many men continue to suffer quietly, shaped by lifelong expectations to “cope on their own.”
The latest episode of the Toronto Star podcast How to Live to 100 (or Die Trying) takes a thoughtful and compassionate look at this issue, focusing on older men, loneliness, and suicide. It is a difficult conversation — but an essential one.
🎧 Listen: Older Men and Suicide
Alan Marrison, one of the men featured in the episode, reflects on his own experience after losing his wife:
“The day it really hit me was the day after the celebration of life. I got up that morning and suddenly realized that, my God, she’s gone. And what do I do now? I felt like a ship without a rudder… I quickly realized that I needed help.”
Through Men’s Sheds, Alan found a space to gradually rebuild social connections, meet peers with similar experiences, and engage in activities that gave him a renewed sense of purpose. As he describes:
“When I first went in, I didn’t talk very much, very quiet. Gradually, I began to open up and talk a little bit more. And I really enjoyed it. Most of us are over the age of 80… there’s a few a bit younger.”
Through his Shed, Alan not only rebuilt his social connections but also found opportunities to share his experiences and mentor international students through a research initiative of the University of Toronto. As he recalls, speaking with younger people was exhilarating — a reminder that connection doesn’t have to be limited to peers. This aligns with the concept of generativity, the human impulse to guide and contribute to the next generation, which psychologists recognize as a key source of purpose in later life.
Men’s Sheds provide a space where older men can regain a sense of meaning, contribute their skills and wisdom, and form relationships that benefit both themselves and their communities. The episode is a powerful reminder that connection, purpose, and contribution are vital to well-being, and that spaces like Men’s Sheds can help older men navigate loss, isolation, and the challenges of later life while making a lasting difference in the lives of others.