That shocking statistic comes as the south-west continues to feel the follow on impacts of suicide, with the number of people taking their own lives on the rise. 

The region’s police are pleading with the community to acknowledge the affect of suicide, and encouraging people to remove the stigma around mental health. 

Last year, 3128 people died by suicide, data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) revealed.

The rate was a 10-year high and the equivalent of 8.6 deaths by suicide in Australia every day.

Of those who died, 75 per cent (2348 people) were male, with 45-49 year olds making up the highest proportion.

The number of suicides had jumped 9.1 per cent – from 2866 deaths in 2016, to 3128 in 2017 – the equivalent of an additional 262 deaths.

The ABS data also stated that regional urban areas experienced the highest increase in number of suicides overall.

The south-west rate is higher than the state and national average.

Warrnambool Senior Sergeant Shane Keogh said police had to attend suicides.

“They are an unexpected death,” he said. “By law the police have to act on behalf of the coroner.” 

He said police members and emergency service workers were prepared to go to jobs where a person had taken their own life.

“But it’s how we deal with the after effects,” he said.

“As organisations, as businesses, as community, how do we build resilience? It’s only working together that we are actually going to do that. I’ve seen my members here going to suicides and it impacting on their mental health.

“As a manager I receive training to help my staff. That has a two-fold effect – to try and prevent it and to help those around me who are impacted.”

“Anecdotally there has been an increase.

“It’s not just one person that is impacted. You have the families, it’s total devastation for parents. If they had been given an indication from their child or sibling, they could have done something . That’s what we are trying to empower.

“It impacts the aunties, uncles, friends, schools, workplaces.”

One initiative working hard to tackle the stigma around mental health in the south-west is Let’s Talk.

It aims to get the community talking without fear or judgement about mental health issues or concerns. 

“Let's Talk is aimed at people who may have issues around self-harm or committing suicide, and removing the stigma about reaching out and asking for help,” Senior Sergeant Keogh said.

“The support around Let’s Talk is massive, from the ground level up.

“That’s why they are such a success. The community is wanting this to occur.”

He said sporting clubs and schools were reaching out to Let’s Talk to get the organisation to come and deliver presentations on what could be done better. 

Other organisations include Beyond Blue, Lifeline and R U OK, of which Senior Sergeant Keogh is an ambassador.

“They aim at empowering the other side,” he said.

“If you or I see someone who is suffering, or not acting right in the workplace or a social scene or in your family, what do you do? The question is ‘R U OK?’ Then what you do next. It’s about educating people on what happens and how to help.” 

“It is an injury, it can be fixed,” he said.

He said the impacts of fatal car accidents and suicide were no different.

“The effect lives on forever,” he said.

“A death involving a car accident is the same as someone taking their life. It impacts into the community.

“Put your hand up if you need help, and if you know someone who might be struggling, talk to them.”

Many people may find asking someone how they are a tricky situation. 

R U OK advises people who may have a concern about their friend or family member to take a relaxed, but concerned approach.

The organisation says if the person doesn’t want to talk, don’t criticise them. 

“Tell them you’re still concerned about changes in their behaviour and you care about them,” R U OK advises.

“Take what they say seriously and don't interrupt or rush the conversation. Don’t judge their experiences or reactions but acknowledge that things seem tough for them. If they need time to think, sit patiently with the silence. Encourage them to explain by asking ‘how are you feeling about that?’ or ‘how long have you felt that way?’

“If they've been feeling really down for more than two weeks, encourage them to see a health professional and be positive about the role of professionals in getting through tough times. Some conversations are too big for family and friends to take on alone.”

R U OK says people should pop a reminder in their diary to call the person they are concerned about in a couple of weeks.

“If they're really struggling, follow up with them sooner,” it advises.

“Ask if they've found a better way to manage the situation. Genuine care and concern can make a real difference.” 

Police inspector Paul Marshall has 25 years experience and sadly says he has been to “many, many suicides”.

“Particularly traumatic for me is yes, the person who has died, that’s really sad, but when you see the impact it has on the family and friends, that’s the emotional impact,” he said.

“It’s the personal impact and the emotions. Witnessing the family facing their grief and loss is what I take back. Some of our members struggle with that.”

He said family members of someone who had taken their own life often looked to police to find an answer why. 

“When I talk to young members and prepare them for that, it’s about doing the best we can in the circumstances,” he said.

“We need to do a job and we are there to investigate the death. We need to show empathy and compassion to the family and professionalism. We need to get them the answers they are desperately seeking. That means a thorough investigation.”

Inspector Marshall said it “never got easy”.

“A couple of suicides I have investigated, while you are going through the processes with the family you take a little bit of comfort that you are helping them through that period,” he said. 

“On occasions they are deeply grateful and I suppose it keeps us going.”

He said police officers were also community members.

“We feel it too,” he said.

“Inevitably we know a lot of people. I don’t think you can prepare for that. The job could come through as a suicide and then you get there. The mental shock of knowing the person is quite hard.

“We are not immune. When we do go to these jobs we have empathy and compassion.”

He said there was always a way out.

“There’s always an option, and a hand ready to give you a hand up,” he said.

“Even if a person hasn’t got outreach from family or friends, they can call us.

“We do care. We have access to a whole range of services that we can put them in touch with. We’re a 24/7 service.” 

Senior Sergeant Keogh said it didn’t matter what a person may have done, or thought they had done. 

He said taking your own life meant the end. 

“If you make a mistake, own up to it,” he said.

“Killing yourself is final.”