These are the accidental counsellors, those not trained in psychology but a force of community workers who people feel comfortable enough with to open up. The barbers and hairdressers, allied health professionals and social workers.

They want to encourage trust and safe spaces while at the same time be mindful of their own headspace.

A Ballarat psychologist says there can be compassion fatigue among any workforce focused on helping others - this can even infiltrate those best professionally equipped to help, psychologists.

They share their stories with The Courier for mental health week, each with the same underlying message for listeners: make sure to talk it out with colleagues, mentors and peers; to do your best job, you need not feel alone.

JIMMY Morrison can have up to 18 clients sit in his chair each day. There are a couple who quip they are ready for their monthly counselling session as he prepares them for a cut or shave.

There are others who open up to Jimmy about personal issues in their lives as he works. This is a privilege Jimmy finds humbling and takes seriously. But it can be tough.

Jimmy's salon Musket and Bayonet has teamed with youth mental health organisation headspace the past three years in creating a program Arms and Armour. The eat Zambrero, have a drink, a shave and talk openly about a key men's issue.

The partnership has helped Jimmy realise how much he had unconsciously been a help by listening.

When the shop first opened, Jimmy found a lot of people would come in and start talking about their mental health issues. This took him by surprise a little at first and is main concern was not so much on coping personally, but how to be good support.

Now, in working alongside headspace, Jimmy felt better equipped in how to ask the right questions and suggest support services in town.

"It's tough as a barber. It can be really hard when I get home to my partner when mentally I take so much on," Jimmy said. "It's a really good thing people can talk to us. They must come in and feel comfortable, not intimidated.

"You don't learn this in training but you learn to deal with experience. Detail is everything in our work and that includes who is present in the chair...You can become friends with clients, there is a trust but you need to stay in the present and listen. That's what trust is."

Musket and Bayonet focuses on inclusion and gender equality. The team meets monthly on how to best achieve this and support each other.

Jimmy said it was important to talk with colleagues and peers outside the profession for perspective.

KERRI Gordon says complex cases and interactions is an area allied health professionals should be talking about more with each other, maintaining respect to patient confidentiality.

The Lake Health Group practice manager and dietitian said practitioner mental health was not always explicitly spoken about in allied health but mentoring and peer support was vital.

Ms Gordon said emotional support was a skill generally improved with experience but it could be tough on graduates.

"Clients are not just an injury to diagnose or a broken leg to fix, you're treating a complex person often with social and emotional side-effects to their condition. It can impact their ability to do things," Ms Gordon said.

"...Mental health is nothing to be ashamed about. It's important to know your client is okay and that you're okay to have such discussions in a consult.

"Sometimes you might not just be treating a hip or a knee. If your client leaves feeling heard, be kind to yourself, you don't always need to get a perfect consult."

Ms Gordon also has an experienced background in community health. This is where she saw the biggest gaps in access for clients to see a general practitioner for referrals and afford mental health services.

Building a rapport was crucial, particularly in her field where issues like weight loss were often intrinsically linked with complex emotions and health conditions.

Ms Gordon said knowing what other supports were available in the community were essential to best help direct clients before it got to a point when mental health care was urgent.

They are the professionals trained in listening, but sometimes the toll of helping could add up a Ballarat psychologist says.

Ballarat has one of the highest suicide rates for Australian cities. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare figures released in July show Ballarat's male suicide rate is 30 per cent above the state average.

This is a city also known as an epicentre for historic child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church.

Each time there is a high-profile incident, like the death of AFL identity Danny Frawley last month, there is a spike in referrals. This also happens each year in the lead-up to Christmas.

A Ballarat psychologist, who does not wish to be named, told The Courier counselling sessions were a professional, safe space to talk openly about suicidal thoughts. But psychologists also had to ensure they were in a safe headspace to listen.

"It's tough. You can make a person as safe as you can in a session but my theory is there are no guarantees. Once they leave, you're left with uncontrollables," the psychologist said.

"A lot of people can leave it too long before seeing a psychologist and sometimes, a psychologist needs a psychologist too to manage their own stuff and emotions."

The psychologist said taking time off work for mental health was hard. You did not want to feel you were letting down those who need it most. But often, it was essential to doing your best job.

"If we stop caring than we're in the wrong profession," the psychologist said.

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