A St Albans man fears the possible closure of a Sunshine Men’s Shed would have serious repercussions for the long-term mental health of many men in Brimbank.
Ljubisa (Louie) Milojevic first came to the Withers Street hub last year after he was retrenched a week before Christmas, 2014, after 18 years of loyal service.
The sacking sent his life into a tailspin.
Mr Milojevic said his post-work thoughts turned to self-harm.
“I took up smoking, I couldn’t handle it. I was chewing on them,” he said. “Lifeline told me not to do anything serious. They were ringing me every three hours.”
As he sat on his daughter’s bed, she asked: “Dad, what’s stopping you committing suicide?”
“I said, ‘The only thing that’s stopping me is I don’t know where to do it’. I walked away – I didn’t want her to see me cry.”
His psychologist suggested he try the Men’s Shed run by UnitingCare.
“It took a bit of courage to come here,” he said.
“After the second time, everyone knew me and I knew them – I was so friggin’ happy, it was unbelievable.
“I get up in the morning – I don’t curl up and wonder what I’ve got to live for. I know where I’ve got to go; I’m laughing.
“I found out everyone’s got the same problem I have. If it wasn’t for this Men’s Shed, the question is, would I be here today?”
Local UnitingCare co-ordinator Anthony Lai said the shed needed two to three years’ funding to assure its future of serving “many high-need men”.
“Many men have high levels of depression,” he said. “This place lifts their spirits, gives them a sense of purpose and belonging.
“We get spits and spats [of funding] from philanthropic trusts and council grants, but we’ve had to stop programs on Thursdays and Fridays from a lack of funding.”
Details: 9311 5900; Lifeline: 13 11 14
