Yes, it's okay to say the word.

For too long there has been a resistance to talk about suicide openly and right there is the major problem. Such attitudes simply feed one of the biggest issues faced by families of those lost - stigma.

As a community we need to move past such attitudes and begin discussing suicide openly to raise awareness and work on prevention.

The need to eradicate the stigma around suicide is one of the major factors behind the establishment of the Suicide Prevention and Awareness Network central Victoria group and the annual Bendigo walk held in March each year.

This year's walk will leave the Dai Gum San Chinese precinct in Bridge Street at 11am on Sunday.

It's a time for people touched by suicide to come together to remember and talk with those who have shared such grief.

It's an opportunity for those fortunate enough to not have experienced a suicide in their family, circle of friends or workplace to turn out in support of those who have.

And it's a chance for a city to think about mental health and how we can help those in need. 

A worthy cause indeed.

Rod Case, editor