Funding Boost for Local Men's Shed and National Suicide Prevention Projects

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Federal Member for Berowra, Julian Leeser MP has welcomed the Coalition Government’s $3,000 grant to the Wisemans Ferry Men’s Shed. The grant will be used to boost the health and wellbeing of men in the Berowra community.

Mr Leeser said the grant is part of the National Shed Development Program to help fund building and maintenance development which will support the Shed’s health improvement activities for local men.

“We know that deaths by suicide occur among males at a rate three times greater than that for females. We also know that social isolation is a contributor to poor mental health, particularly for men.”

“That’s why the Wisemans Ferry Men’s Shed is so important. The Shed is run by an excellent group of volunteers who have created a welcoming atmosphere for men meet to connect with friends, be productive, contribute to the community and maintain an active body and mind,” Mr Leeser said. “Recent projects undertaken by the Wiseman’s Ferry Men’s Shed, such as purchasing a community bus, have made a huge impact on their ability to reach out to isolated and lonely people in the local community.”

This funding announcement coincides with Men’s Shed Week which this year celebrates the spirit of mateship.

“The Wisemans Ferry Men’s Shed wholeheartedly embodies the philosophy of friendship, loyalty and comradery – I am delighted to continue to support this timely initiative,” Mr Leeser said.

This announcement comes off the back of newly released preliminary data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) showing that the national suicide rate increased by 9.1 per cent over 12 months exceeding the World Health Organisation’s global average suicide mortality rate by 2.1 per cent.

Mr Leeser expressed his concern for the increase in the number of deaths by suicide in Australia.

“The increase in deaths by suicide is deeply alarming. The data shows that more needs to be done in suicide prevention in terms of raising awareness and ensuring that support services are adequately funded to help people experiencing person crisis and potentially contemplating suicide.”

“For this reason, I am pleased with our Government’s recent announcement to invest more than $36 million in national suicide prevention projects to raise awareness of the impact of suicide and to support Australians who may be at risk,” said Mr Leeser.

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