This Sunday many families will be celebrating Father’s Day, with the opening of gifts, family barbeques and outings.

For some families, the day will not be that joyful, as they remember a dad or male family friends that have committed suicide.Rod McKenzie, Chair of the Gawler Suicide Prevention Community Group said that the feelings can be the same whether the person has suicided in the last twelve months or more than twelve years ago.

The GSPCG joined forces with Local Member of Parliament, Tony Piccolo at a stall at the Gawler Show over the weekend to provide information to families that may help prevent a suicide in their family.Mr McKenzie says many people ask what they can do to help prevent suicide in their family and friends.

Mr McKenzie provided some simple tips on how family and friends might be able to assist a bloke in their life.Try to create opportunities – safe and private occasions where you ask about his experiences – how he is really experiencing things. If you don’t ask, you won’t know.

However, don’t delay waiting for the ‘perfect occasion’, his safety is all important.Listen to him and his experiences attentively, with an open mind and without judgement.

Don’t expect him to use the kind of “feeling” words that women use.If he has strong distressing feelings, acknowledge and validate them: “sounds like things are really hard for you at present? “Affirm his value and worth, and that he is needed and wanted.Help him to engage more socially, and to better connect positively with family and friends.

Dropping in on him unexpectedly sometimes may help to break his pattern of self-defeating thoughts.If he appears determined to act on his suicidal thoughts, and especially if he has the means and a plan, and he won’t seek and accept immediate assistance, call the police.

Better for you to lose a friend than for him to lose his life.Mr Piccolo said that every day 6 or almost 2,000 males a year take their own life.

“Four out five suicides in this country are committed by males and we need to do more to increase community awareness, remove the stigma attached so we can better support families, and more importantly, prevent more suicides from occurring,” said Mr Piccolo.

More suggestions in the book “Preventing Male suicide: Become part of the solution” prepared by Dr John Ashfield, Anthony Smith and Luke Bain.Copies of the easy to read booklet are available by contacting Mr McKenzie on 04 8899 3549 or email rod.mckenzie51@gmail.com or the authors if you need a large number of the booklets.

If any person is experiencing suicidal thoughts or just needs to speak with somebody on a confidential basis they can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, Men’s Line: 1300 78 99 78, Veterans Line: 1800 011 046, Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800, BeyondBlue on 1300 22 4636 or one of the many other services available.

Online resources are available at http://aimhs.com.au/cms/index.php?page=facts-about-suicide Mr Piccolo stressed there is no shame or weakness in reaching out for assistance and often speaking with a trained person can put some difficult matters and issues into greater perspective.