Across the five years from 2015 to 2019, the suicide rate for men in Ballarat was 24.6 per 100,000 - 50 per cent higher than the Victorian rate which sits at 16.2.

Alarmingly the rate was even higher in Golden Plains at 26 per 100,000, while the rates were also higher than average in Hepburn which recorded a figure of 22 per 100,000, and 21.4 in Moorabool.

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report records 77 deaths from suicide in Ballarat across the five year period, with almost five times as many men (63) than women(14) taking their own lives.

For men in Ballarat, suicide was the eighth most common cause of death but it was not in the top 20 for women.

The rate has been consistently high across Ballarat for decades, and is generally about 40 per cent higher in rural and regional areas than in major cities.

Since the figures were collected, there has been significant investment and the promise of reform across Victoria's mental health system in a bid to help stop suicides and improve mental health outcomes.

A study last week revealed four in five Australians want more government funding to tackle the health and social issues that impact men such as mental health and suicide.

When asked to rank a range of men's issues in order of importance, two thirds of respondents said men's mental health was the greatest concert, and half stated male suicide prevention.

"Preventing male suicide is a national priority," said Australian Mens Health Forum chief executive Glen Poole. "Men account for three in four suicides in Australia and yet our research consistently finds that up to four in five clients of government-funded suicide prevention services are women.

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"We want to see significant funding allocated to suicide prevention programs and services that are specifically targeted at men. Our research shows that the vast majority of Australians would back such a move.

According to the AIHW report, the leading cause of death for both men and women in Ballarat continues to be coronary heart disease, which claimed 498 lives from 2015-2019, followed by dementia and Alzheimers disease which took 330 lives, 272 people who died from cerebrovascular disease, 235 from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and 201 from lung cancer.

If you or someone you know is in need of crisis support, phone Lifeline 13 11 14.

Help is also available from other organisations including Beyond Blue 1300 224 636; Suicide Callback Service 1300 659 467; Mensline 1300 789 978 or mensline.org.au

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