South West Healthcare mental health executive director Karyn Cook welcomed the funding that will see the Hospital Outreach Post-suicidal Engagement (HOPE) program brought to the south-west.

The program provides support and follow up for people leaving hospital after a suicide attempt.

"We're very pleased about the funding, we're just about to roll out another program called The Way Back so we will dovetail the two programs together," Ms Cook said.

"What they will both focus on is supporting people post a suicide attempt or significant self harm and provide wrap around services after the event to support them in their recovery journey.

"With this funding we will be able to scale up our team which services the five local government areas across the south-west."

The announcement was made on Sunday but the hospital is yet to learn how much funding they will receive.

In Warrnambool between 2014-18 suicide was the ninth-highest leading cause of death in males, with 3.2 per cent of the city's male population dying by suicide.

In those four years 23 deaths were recorded, with the average age 28.

Ms Cook said isolation, relationship breakdowns and financial issues were just some of the factors people sought support for in the region.

There are currently anywhere between seven and 12 mental health clinicians stationed at Warrnambool, Portland, Hamilton and Camperdown at any one time.

"We're certainly seeing increasing demand for mental health services locally, not just the public acute mental health services which I run but generally across the primary health sector at individual practices, psychologists and GPs," Ms Cook said.

"In this unprecendented state of disaster peoples resilience and responses to the restrictions and loss of social connectedness is having an impact.

"I think younger people are incredibly challenged because of the lack of access to education and we're seeing the impacts on children, teens and young adults.

"In our regional setting many young people go off to the big smoke for university if they're not attending our Deakin campus and many have had to come home and have lost that social connection with friends, a lot have lost their jobs too and it does impact on a young person's sense of wellbeing.

"My advice to anyone struggling the first port of call should be your GP, and for those more media savvy apps through organisations like Headspace are a great resource, as well as all the helplines."

The funding is expected to roll out by the end of the week.

"We're always delighted to see funding in regional and rural areas, we want more services and improved infrastructure the regional settings," Ms Cook said. "We want to make sure everyone gets equal access to mental health services no matter their postcode."

If you or someone you know needs help, you can call Lifeline Australia (13 11 14), Beyond Blue (1800 512 348), or Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800).

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