About 100 people gathered at Horsham’s Wesley Performing Arts Centre for a ‘let’s talk about suicide’ seminar on Wednesday night.

‘‘We weren’t expecting huge numbers, because suicide isn’t a fun topic,’’ Mr Morrow said.

‘‘The audience was mostly made up of people who have been touched by suicide, and service providers.’’

Mr Morrow said former beyondblue and Lifeline chief executive Dawn O’Neil was an outstanding speaker.

‘‘Dawn spoke a lot about how the rate of suicide in Australia is double the road toll, yet nothing is done about it,’’ he said.

‘‘In Australia, we didn’t accept the road toll, so something was done about it.

‘‘At the moment, Australia hasn’t accepted that the suicide rate is too high.

‘‘Until it says enough is enough, nothing will be done about it.’’

Mr Morrow said Ms O’Neil shared a range of experiences working with communities to curb suicide rates.

‘‘She spoke about going into one community that had a death toll of 26 in one year,’’ he said. ‘‘That was in 2006. She worked with other service providers and until this day, there has not been another suicide there.’’

Mr Morrow said the seminar also provided Wimmera residents with an opportunity to speak and ask questions.

‘‘Dawn encouraged people to talk, so a lot of people shared their experiences with the audience,’’ he said.

‘‘Some of them had lost loved ones and it could not have been easy for them to stand up and tell their stories.’’

Mr Morrow said Ms O’Neil met with service providers and 

Horsham Rural City Council representatives yesterday morning.

‘‘Council is going to see what it can do and we will continue to do what we can as a committee,’’ he said.

‘‘Suicide tends to be hidden away, but it needs to be out in the open.’’

Mr Morrow said Healthy Minds would host Monash University senior lecturer and general practitioner Craig Hassed in August.

He said Dr Hassed focused on incorporating mindfulness-based strategies into health, professional and educational environments.

Mr Morrow encouraged people who were struggling to ask for help.

‘‘One thing that came out of Wednesday night was that not everyone is happy with ringing a phone number,’’ he said.

Mr Morrow said people could call him on 0418 504 985 or Wimmera Uniting Care on 5362 4000 for help.

‘‘I’m happy to speak to people or recommend someone for a face-to-face conversation,’’ he said.

● If you or someone you know needs help, call Lifeline on 13 11 14, Mensline on 1300 789 978, beyondblue on 1300 224 636 or the suicide helpline on 1300 651 251.