It could be talking about things going well or a check in on what has been happening that day.

National youth mental health body headspace had launched a campaign aimed at dads, who are often the most significant male role model for young men, in a bid to build stronger bonds and support.

Young men suffer some of the most serious mental health issues of any group in Australia but headspace says only 13 per cent seek help, leaving tens of thousands are staying silent.

Ballarat headspace team leader Janelle Johnson said parents often worried when their sons did not say much but even getting incidental conversations going could make a big difference.

“We do often hear it from both sides in Ballarat – we hear dads saying they want to communicate more with young boys and also young men saying they want to communicate more with their fathers,” Ms Johnson said.

“It’s good to talk, even when things were going really well with them. Sometimes its nice to start more natural.”

Ms Johnson said the issue did not discriminate between rural and metropolitan young men, or lower-socioeconomic and wealth. 

She said often it was when young men became dads themselves for the first time did they realise they did not have a base model for the kind of father they want to be but this could change by changing the conversations now.

headspace has put together a website with tips and strategies to start conversations and strengthening father-son bonds, for example, a chat over a kick of footy or conversations in the car. Ms Johnson said these often helped because there was little or no eye contact and talks were less intense.

The aim is for fathers to learn triggers and warning signs in their children, and help break the stigma in getting support.

Ballarat headspace also offers sessions talking with fathers and sons together and longer hours on Wednesday and Thursday nights, to 7pm, for working dads.

For further information about starting a conversation with a young person, especially for dads and their sons, please visit www.headspace.org.au/dads. Dads can also register for an anonymous eheadspace session on Thursday, 7pm.