ConNetica director John Mendoza’s plea comes as the Australian Labor Party announced a $72-million suicide prevention plan at the weekend. 

The plan includes an additional $9m to a dedicated national research fund, as recommended by the National Research Action Plan for Suicide Prevention; funding to maintain 95 headspace centres; and funding for 12 regional prevention trials. 

Mr Mendoza called on Wannon candidates to sign a pledge to address the rising toll of suicide and self-harm. 

He said Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull had announced a commitment, while visiting the Corangamite electorate, to “leave no stone unturned” in lowering suicide rates – but he called for more detail from the Liberal Party leader.

He said the Australian Greens had a broader mental health program with limited detail on suicide prevention.

Mr Mendoza said there were almost three times as many deaths by suicide as road fatalities within the Wannon electorate in the four-year period between 2009 and 2012. 

“We know, nationally, that the number of suicides have dramatically increased since that period and the unofficial data that I’m aware of for 2015 is even higher again,” he said.

Mr Mendoza said electorates with “economical forces” such as farming and industry needed particular attention. 

He said a collaborate approach from all levels of government and businesses could achieve alternative support programs and strategies.

“It’s really super important, in those areas, that we actually do more than merely raise awareness,” he said.

“We have to have other strategies that help people through this very challenging, very difficult time – things like making available re-training, low interest or no interest loans to help people refinance and re-establish their business on a different basis. 

“People have to have hope. 

“If they’ve been under sustained stress for a lot of years in their business, entrapment is about the worst place to be.

“That feeling of there is no other option for me … that’s when lives are lost.”