TWO thousand, five hundred shoes were placed at Hadfield Park, Wallan, on Saturday, representing the more than 2500 male lives lost to suicide each year.
Organised by not-for-profit group Zero Suicide Community Awareness, the display was the eighth time shoes were laid down.
Every year on International Men’s Day, the group lays 2500 pairs of shoes on Parliament lawn, advocating for the government to instate a minister for men’s and boys’ health.
For the first time, the shoes are travelling around states, with Wallan’s event the first before heading to Sale, the Mornington Peninsula and then into New South Wales.
Member of Zero Suicide Community Awareness Kaitlyn Cook explained the importance of the displays.
“Our main message is to bring awareness to men’s mental health and suicide. We lose one male every three hours, seven men per day. That’s 2500 plus in a year,” she said.
“A lot of the reason is because of something called “situational distress” which is financial or court issues, relationship breakdowns and family or domestic violence issues.
“All these things are situational distress, which is the biggest leader for men’s suicide.”
Ms Cook shares a message to the community, reminding all of the importance of looking out for one another.
“Australia, if you need help, go find it,” she said.
“It’s not weak to speak; check on your mates and help drop these numbers.
“On the back of their wings, we fight.”
You can follow the work of Zero Suicide Community Awareness on their Facebook page. Search Zerosuicide community awareness program.
For those who need help, services are available. Call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or MensLine on 1300 78 99 78.