Darren Bosley from Fraser Coast Mates wants people to join an event for suicide awareness

As dozens of people walk around Seafront Oval this weekend, they will be thinking about the mates they have lost.

Organiser Darren Bosley from Fraser Coast Mates said it was vital to continue to spread the message and urge people to seek help when they were struggling.

On Sunday, dozens of people will come together at Hervey Bay’s Seafront Oval to walk 9km for mental health awareness.

Many will be thinking about the mates they have lost to suicide as a result of mental illness.

Organiser Darren Bosley from Fraser Coast Mates said it was vital to continue to spread the message and urge people to seek help when they were struggling.

On average, Fraser Coast Mates receives at least one call a week from a man or a family facing a mental health struggle.

Within 72 hours, the organisation connects the individual with a counsellor.

But part of the challenge was actually getting the person to contact the counsellor, Mr Bosley said.

According to research, up to 75 per cent of people who died by suicide had not seen a professional for treatment.

Groups were still battling stigma that saw men try to cope with mental health issues by themselves instead of reaching out, he said.

The Fraser Coast has mourned the death of several people who have died by suicide in the past 12 months.

Mr Bosley said it was hard to say how much Covid was impacting people’s wellbeing – but the walk used to be 8km to mourn the eight Australian lives lost to suicide each day in what was a hidden pandemic.

It’s now 9km after the average rose during the year.

“The first half of this year was shocking,” Mr Bosley said.

“As a society, we need to encourage people to speak up.”

More and more organisations were creating an environment where people could stand up, he said.

But suicide remained the number one killer of men under 45, Mr Bosley said.

The event will start from 7.30am at Seafront Oval.

To find out more, click here.

Do you need help?

Lifeline 13 11 14

headspace 1800 650 890

beyondblue 1300 224 636

Suicide callback service 1300 659 467