WAGGA mental health advocates have backed a Facebook movement which encourages men at risk of suicide to speak up and ask for help.
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#ItsOKtotalk is a social media campaign which asks men to share a selfie of themselves, alongside statistics of male suicide in the hopes of encouraging others to speak up.
It comes as men in regional areas continue to be one of the most at risk groups for intentional self harm in Australia.
Former Wagga man Patrick Lawson is one of many local identities to throw his weight behind the campaign.
Mr Lawson suffered from depression and attempted to take his own life last year.
He now spreads mental health awareness through his Facebook page 3 Words; I need help.
“Being the stereotypical male, I thought ‘I’ll keep it to myself, I’ll get through this’,” Mr Lawson said.
“It wasn’t until the day I attempted to take my own life that I realised what I had been doing for the last 30 years was the dumbest thing I had ever done.”
Wagga psychologist Daniel Hayes said social media campaigns were part of the solution in reducing mental health stigma.
Closer to home, the close-knit nature of regional communities like Wagga could often provide a useful support network for people to recover in.
If we are on the look out for friends and family and people in our community we can actually do more to prevent,” Mr Hayes said.
“In the city you are a bit more anonymous.”
Lifeline: 13 11 14
Mensline: 1300 789 978