That was the message being spread at yesterday’s Suicide Prevention Awareness Network (SPAN) walk through Bendigo’s CBD.

About 500 people took part in the event, which is now in its second year and aims to raise awareness about the issue of suicide.

Beyondblue chief executive officer Kate Carnell travelled to Bendigo from Melbourne for the SPAN walk, which she described as an incredibly important event.

“As we know, still in Australia, double the number of people die as a result of suicide than die on our roads,” she said.

“So, although as a community, as a society, we’ve done a lot, we’ve still got a very long way to go.

“The evidence tells us that it’s these sort of community events where we can raise awareness, reduce the stigma and allow people to talk about it.

“It helps people and communities to grieve but it also provides support for people to be able to identify people who may be at risk and be confident enough to provide help.”

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Ms Carnell said sometimes people didn’t know how to recognise the signs of depression or how to help a loved one. But she said we all had a social responsibility to lend a hand and help prevent suicide into the future.

“We hear people say, ‘I just don’t know what I’d say, I know that person’s doing it tough but it’s too hard’,” she said. “I think these sort of events sort of remind us that no, we’ve actually got a responsibility, every one of us, that if we see someone doing it tough, to approach them, to show that you’re there to help.

“Sometimes it’s hard but these sort of events say, ‘Well actually it’s not an option, it’s something we actually have a responsibility as a community to do’.”

National StandBy co-ordinator Jill Fisher said yesterday’s SPAN walk was bittersweet for people who had lost loved ones to suicide.

“I congratulate you on your courage to be here today and make a difference,” she told the crowd.

“StandBy is overjoyed and excited to be part of what your community is doing.

“We are looking to support people bereaved by suicide because we know there are so many people who have been touched in some way – whether a local loss here, whether it’s a grandma living here in Bendigo who loses her grandson down in Melbourne or somewhere else, whether somebody is here today who might have lost someone many years ago, we are looking to support you. 

“It’s about all the community having a role to play, to care for those left behind and to prevent suicide in the future.”