Advocates Want to Change How We Think About Male Suicide

It is from ABC Gippsland.

The topic is mental health.

The article was published on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at 8:32 am.

Paul Withall took a memorial of 2,500 shoes to the town of Sale.

In short, this is about suicide awareness.

Advocates want to focus on the things that can lead to male suicide, beyond just mental health issues.

In 2024, 3,307 people died by suicide in Australia, with 2,529 of them being men.

What happens next?

Advocates are happy that Victoria has appointed a minister for men and boys.

On a sad Friday morning, 2,500 shoes were laid out in a park to represent the men who die by suicide each year.

Each shoe represents one man who died by suicide.

Inside the shoes are pictures of young men who died by suicide.

Families who lost loved ones to suicide are visiting the memorial in Sale.

The main reason for male suicide in Australia is situational distress.

The memorial was created by the Zero Suicide Community Awareness Program.

The program's founder, Paul Withall, says Gippsland has a high male suicide rate.

The memorial is happening as Victoria gets its first minister for men and boys.

In 2024, 3,307 people died by suicide, including 2,529 men and 778 women.

Advocates want suicide prevention to consider situational distress.

We need to recognize situational distress.

Paul Withall says situational distress is a key factor in male suicide.

Paul Withall is traveling with the shoe memorial to raise awareness about male suicide.

Relationship problems are a big factor in male suicide, with 43.1% of cases linked to this.

There are not enough support services for men dealing with situational issues.

A 2017 report agrees with Paul Withall's approach to suicide prevention.

The report says we need a new way to prevent suicide that looks at situational distress.

The current approach focuses on mental illness, not on life events that can lead to suicide.

There are calls for a new way of thinking about mental health.

Victoria has appointed a minister for men and boys, Paul Edbrooke.

A display of 2,500 shoes represents the men and boys who die by suicide each year.

Mr. Edbrooke wants to help boys become healthier men and is concerned about family violence and suicide.

If you or someone you know needs help, please reach out.

Anthony Smith is an expert on mental health and says we focus too much on individual depression.

He thinks we medicalize common human emotions and behaviors too much.

Anthony Smith has written about the need to rethink how we approach mental health.

We need to understand the difference between difficult life experiences and mental illness.

Despite our efforts, suicide rates are still increasing, suggesting our approach may not be working.

Donna Kerr started a support group after her son Daniel died by suicide.

We need to encourage men and boys to talk about their feelings.

Donna Kerr began a youth mental support group after her son's death.

Visitors to the memorial write messages of hope for men and boys.

Daniel suffered from long-term trauma after being bullied and ridiculed online.

LGBTQIA+ and Aboriginal men are more likely to think about suicide.

Tragically, Daniel's cousin William also died by suicide.

Lawrie Vosper's brother William died by suicide, and he remembers him as a jokester who hid his pain.

Donna Kerr welcomes the appointment of a minister for men and boys.

She hopes the minister will make men's mental health a priority and reduce the stigma around seeking help.

A sister wrote a heartfelt letter to her late brother.

Some online sites and in-person groups provide good support services for men and boys.

But more customized support groups and drop-in centers are needed to help men and boys navigate life's stresses.

ABC Gippsland provides local news.

The article was published on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at 8:32 am.

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