Mackay has the second highest suicide rate in Queensland – mostly young men. Regional centres are worse for suicide than capital cities anyway, but Mackay has additional problems brought about by the mining boom. Mackay is a financially advantaged area but, socially, it’s very disadvantaged. There’s lot so shift work and parents who are away for four days or weeks at a time. High rents and cost of living has a huge impact for those families who aren’t on the high incomes. There is a proven solution out there – Headspace Mental Health Centres are saving lives in other regional centres but Mackay doesn’t have one and missed out again in the last announcement. A petition is circulating to be signed and sent to Canberra in May.