Mr Newling, speaking in Ballarat this week, said people in regional areas tended to worry too much about becoming the talk of the town rather than realising they could tap into a valuable support network.

He wants to get people talking, which he says underpins mental health, and believes raising awareness at a community level can create such a big impact.

“I wouldn’t want to say I know what it’s like in the country, but talking to so many people I know there are a lot of unique challenges, like access to services,” Mr Newling told The Courier.

“...There is a tendency in country towns for wanting to have conversations but a sense that everyone is going to know. The flip-side is that people in country towns have a tendency to be really connected and those genuine deep community connections are the perfect vehicle to carry conversations.”

Mr Newling and his family have become well-known champions for mental health, suicide prevention and sharing personal stories. He has dedicated his life to changing the way mental health is viewed, following his own experience with a mood disorder as a young teenager and in losing his brother to suicide.

Now, Mr Newling splits his life between New York and Australia, cultures of contrasting lifestyles and starkly different medical systems, yet in some ways facing similar themes in reaching out: “The way, I’ve been told, in New York is everyone has a therapist but no-one is willing to talk about mental health”.

Formerly working with Black Dog Institute, Mr Newling now has joined New York-based mental health organisation The Chamapions. He is also an R U OK? ambassador and decorated public speaker. Gradually, Mr Newling has found mental health talk evolve but there was still a long way to go.

“When I first started doing this, I’d approach schools and they would push back saying it’s not good for kids to learn these things," Mr Newling said. “Australia is doing really well in that sense now, in a mostly helpful way and with groups taking real initiative on mental health.”

Mr Newling said public figures, like Sydney Swans star footballer Lance Franklin, really helped in breaking barriers when openly admitting mental health struggles.

He said genuine stories made a big impact, especially among men and ideals of toughness.

“But the real power is in people. Social movement,” Mr Newling said. “You don’t have to have a lot of money to donate to charity to make a difference. It’s about how you speak and how you interact with each other.”

Mr Newling sparked conversation in Ballarat with a public lecture, Speaking of Mental Health, presented by University of Melbourne’s rural health department at the Museum of Australian Democracy at Eureka.

For more information: thechampions.org