Mr Parkinson, who has worked in the mental health field for many years in Warrnambool, said people living in rural and regional areas were more likely to suffer from mental health issues due to social isolation.

This is backed up in new research revealed by Suicide Prevention Australia to coincide with R U OK? Day and World Suicide Awareness Day on Thursday.

It shows people living in rural or regional areas are more likely to be personally affected by suicide, with 67 per cent revealing they had, compared to 60 per cent in metropolitan areas.

"People in rural and regional areas are more socially isolated," he said. "We are born to be social creatures and this has an impact on people."

The data also shows over 10 million Australian adults know someone who has personally died by suicide, that's half the population.

Mr Parkinson said this had worsened due to coronavirus restrictions. In addition to that some people were concerned about the future. "This is an event we've had no say over - no control over," Mr Parkinson said. He said people didn't know if and when the pandemic would be over. "It's frustrating for so many of us because we want to know what's coming ahead. It's the unknown that's making us stressed."

Mr Parkinson urged people to remember the things they are grateful for.

"Respect is so important - now more than ever - respect for others and respect for yourself," he said.

Mr Parkinson urged people to remain connected with other people and encourage them to seek help if they are struggling.

Suicide Prevention Australia chief executive officer Nieves Murray said more than four million regional Australians had been personally affected by suicide.

"I live in our regions and you only have to look around and see that global disasters like COVID19 hit our local economies, communities and services harder and faster than our capital cities," Ms Murray said.

"The better we can proactively predict what economic and social risks are facing our regional and rural communities, the better we can prepare Australians and prevent suicide rates increasing.

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, Lifeline has seen a surge in phone calls with people requesting assistance with the national hotline experiencing more calls each month of 2020 than in its 57 year history.

Within the south-west, the top three reasons people are calling 13 11 14 is for assistance with loneliness, anxiety and relationship issues.

Lifeline community engagement worker Linda Holland passionately believes everyone over the age of 15 should undergo suicide and mental health training to become more aware of the problems within their communities.

"Most people want to help but don't know what to say," Ms Holland said. "They have valid fears that what they say could lead to something.

"Training gives confidence and skills to know what to look for and often it's not the training that gives someone support, it's having a human listening to them.

"I remember doing my first assist training 25 years ago and it blew my mind.

"When you begin to break those sort of stigmas down and give education, it builds awareness and safety within the community."

Ms Holland said despite increase of mental health issues people are experiencing within the pandemic, a silver-lining is the increase awareness people have about their own mental state.

"I do think people are more aware of mental health," she said. "There were a lot of the myths people held onto but now there's more education out there and the stigmas are being broken.

"There's still a long way to go, we have a lot more work and a lot more promotion to do."

Through mental health awareness and training, Ms Holland has seen the south-west suicide average fall in recent years and hopes to continue seeing people reach out to others.

"I heard this great quote the other day "When a person is so depressed and suicidal, they don't have the energy to reach out, it's up to us to reach in" and I really believe in that," she said.

"If people have the confidence to reach in then people can be really supported.

"The only way we can fight this is for people to get the skills and know what to do when they're talking to someone who's thinking about suicide. While it can hide in the shadows and wreak havoc, we need to pull it into the light.

"We're not expecting everyone to become a counsellor, but we're encouraging people to sit in the mud with them and help them with support."

This World Suicide Prevention Day, Lifeline Warrnambool is holding a virtual walk between September 10 and 17 in lieu of their annual walk along The Breakwater in a show of support for those bereaved by suicide and those who are struggling with their own mental health. To participate head to geelonglifeline.org.au/event

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