Former soldier Ben Sellars has called for more action to further support defence force and emergency services personnel amid a growing suicide count.
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"If something isn't done, too many more lives will be lost," he told The Courier at the weekend.
"Something really needs to be done to support service personnel - army, firefighters, paramedics, police and even triple-0 responders."
Mr Sellars was among the 1200-strong crowd who walked around St. Patrick's College on Saturday to raise awareness of mental illness at the fourth annual Walking Off The War Within event.
Hundreds of emergency service personnel - many dressed in uniform - including police, firefighters and paramedics, defence force personnel and members of the public walked alongside each other in memory of returned soldier, firefighter and mental health advocate Nathan Shanahan who lost his battle at the end of 2016.
Others were there in tribute to other servicemen, women and loved ones who have taken their lives due to a struggle with post traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression and other mental health issues.
It is a particularly important event in Ballarat, a city that has been rocked by suicide.
Recent tragedies - including high-profile football identity Danny Frawley - and statistics that show Ballarat has one of the highest male suicide rates in Victoria show the urgent need for conversation about the often not-talked-about condition of mental health.
The event comes just weeks after Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced a national commissioner for defence and veteran suicide prevention who will look into curbing the suicide rate and report back yearly.
Mr Sellars has lost a number of friends to suicide and knows many others who are still in need of mental health support.
He said seeing so many people walking in Ballarat to raise awareness and to show those suffering that they were not alone was very impactful.
He served in Darwin as part of the 1st armoured regiment with Mr Shanahan and the two were close friends, serving together for four years.
"It's a great way for me to remember him as a soldier and what he meant to me as a mate," he said.
Mr Sellars said Mr Shanahan was one of the most honourable and well-respected soldiers he served with, and everyone was mates with him.
"He always did absolutely everything he could to help you," he said. "I think about Nathan every single day."
While he left the army 12 years ago and said at that time mental health was not widely spoken about or recognised as an illness, he hopes the red tape has been removed for people now seeking support so that it is more accessible for those who so desperately require it.
According to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Mr Shanahan was among 2866 people who took their lives in 2016.
The number of suicides has increased since, with 3046 people dying by suicide in 2018 - that is 8.34 people dying by suicide each day.
For firefighter and ex-serviceman Josh Madden - who travelled from Mildura with his support golden labrador Milly - it was an emotional event given that he is struggling mentally at the moment.
Tackling the 20-kilometre challenge while carrying a 20-kilogram bag to symbolise the burden mental illness can have on a sufferer, he walked alongside mate Stuart Radley - another firefighter who knew Mr Shanahan well.
Mr Madden, who left the army three years ago, has overcome the often difficult step to seek help.
"It was certainly tough asking for help initially but now that I've crossed that hurdle, it's easier," he said.
He began working as a firefighter almost immediately after departing the army, which assisted with his assimilation back into society.
Tearing up, he said the past 12 months had been particularly difficult as he was missing the military and some of his mates who have died.
Mr Madden believes the event is a good way to raise awareness of the mental health issues so many people face.
"I think that's really all you can do - to encourage people to reach out and spread the word that it's 'okay not to be okay' and to ask for help."
It was also an emotional day for dozens of Forest Fire Management Victoria employees from across Victoria.
Chief Fire Officer Chris Hardman said the event was a powerful display of the camaraderie between the men and women of all services, who were united in a common desire to raise awareness of an issue that sees many of their own take their lives.
Articulating that he had always been motivated to attend the event, he said this year was particularly significant given the effect the fire season has had on so many people.
In this fire season alone, FFMV lost three friends and colleagues - David Moresi, Mat Kavanagh and Bill Slade.
"We lost three fine human beings and to me as the chief, that was particularly difficult, but it pales in comparison to the loss felt by their friends and family," Mr Hardman said.
"Things like this do contribute to PTSD and mental illness (for others)."
While FFMV employs measures to ensure there is a focus on employees' well-being on the job, he said staff worked in dynamic, high-risk environments that do come with stress and often anxiety and fear which has an impact.
Explaining that he too has suffered from mental illness, though in a mild way, he said he understood what it felt like to feel hopeless but that he asked for help.
"People still don't talk enough about mental illness. There shouldn't be a stigma associated with it.
"It is just like any other illness - it's an illness and you can be treated for it so let's open up, let's talk, let's share our stories and talk to our mates when we're feeling they're a bit down and let's reach out to people.
"And get professional help when needed because, like any other illness, sometimes we need a doctor."
For Mr Shanahan's dad John, seeing so many attend was "wonderful".
The event had more of a family focus this year, with a disco and children's activities.
"It's just wonderful to see so many people and families come out and say that it is okay to speak about mental health, it is okay to talk about suicide," he said. "We're all human beings and we've all been touched by it. So, let's get rid of the stigma."
In order for society to really tackle the issue, he said everybody from community to schools, employers and government needed to work together.
"It's a fact of society now. And it's something that's not going to go away, unless we all work together to stamp this out," he said.
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