When Ashley Abell was recovering from a suicide attempt at the age of 36, he felt he had nowhere to turn.

Key points: Klassic Transformations helps men with a disability or mental illness combat loneliness

Klassic Transformations helps men with a disability or mental illness combat loneliness One participant was socially isolated for more than a decade before joining the program

One participant was socially isolated for more than a decade before joining the program A psychology professor says it can be hard for middle-aged men to find the right group

"I've suffered from depression and anxiety my whole life," Mr Abell said.

"And for a guy in his middle age, mid-30s, there wasn't really much for me to do."

"At Men's Shed, the guys were a lot older, and at [youth mental health organisation] Headspace, those sort of programs were for younger guys."

About 14 years later, in January this year, he and his partner Tania De Brincat founded Klassic Transformations, which meets twice a week at their car restoration business in Mackay in north Queensland.

Many men, like Mal Ridden, have had trouble finding a group so they can socialise. ( ABC Tropical North: Angel Parsons )

The program pairs middle-aged men at risk of suicide, self-harm or depression with a person with a disability who is also at risk.

Participants restore classic cars to sell, with all proceeds going back into the club.

"I class a classic car as like a barbeque — you stand around a classic car and the conversation just flows," Mr Abell said.

"A lot of guys that suffer from mental illness do become socially isolated and it's just a safe place for them to … bring back some meaning to their life."

Groups like car club the 'treatment of choice'

University of Queensland psychology professor Alex Haslam said loneliness and social isolation were the cause of many health conditions — mental and physical.

He said groups like Klassic Transformations were the most effective way to intervene.

"It isn't just 'this is kind of effective' or 'this seems to work'. Actually, the evidence suggests this is the treatment or intervention of choice," he said.

Mr Abell says there has been strong interest from men looking for more social interaction. ( ABC Tropical North: Angel Parsons )

But Professor Haslam said a lack of funding towards groups had seen gaps emerge, meaning it could be difficult for middle-aged men to find the right group.

"If you look at the 10 biggest threats to mortality that Australians face, the number one and two threats are lack of social integration and lack of social support," he said.

"But if you ask people on the street to rank the various health risks, they put those same things at the bottom of the list.

"So it's not just that we're a little bit out of tune with what the data is telling us, actually we're completely out of tune with it."

Ending 12 years of social isolation

For more than a decade, Klassic Transformations member Mal Ridden was confined to his unit, only leaving for groceries and the essentials.

Since a car accident in his 20s left him with brain damage, he said it had been difficult to find work.

"Watching the TV all the time and making the electricity bill go up, it's just boring to do nothing," he said.

Mr Ridden started coming to the car yard, and after 12 isolated years, he now has regular outings.

"It gets us off the street, keeps us away from the cops, you can do something, make yourself feel handy," he said.

Ron English lives with a brain injury sustained as a child and said Klassic Transformations had helped to save his life, after a marriage split, and mental breakdown, left him homeless.

"I was one day at a stage of committing suicide, but I've got a daughter and son and there was no way I was going to," he said.

Ron English says he could still be living rough if it wasn't for the help of a support service and its recommendation he join the car club. ( ABC Tropical North: Angel Parsons )

"This program has made me that happy and it's helped me get what I want.

"I hope all [men] could come to programs like this.

"It'll open up their minds, and I'd love it if all men did open up their minds."

But the group is only just getting by

Co-founder Ashley Abell said after unsuccessful fundraising efforts and grant applications, the number of participants had to be cut from 30 to eight.

"What really concerns me is that if I do close, [the participants will] end up back at square one," he said.

"Some of my guys live for this program."

For many of the men, the club is the first place where they've been able to share their emotions. ( ABC Tropical North: Angel Parsons )

As important as medical equipment

Professor Haslam said countless groups around the country were facing the same funding drought.

"If I was the … Health Minister and you say, 'Well we need to fund this … mechanics club in Mackay', they're going to say, 'Get out of here, no, we need to fund this new piece of medical equipment'," he said.

"Actually … investing in groups like this is absolutely critical to obviating the need for that critical medical equipment downstream."