The Border Mail understands there have been at least three suicides and two attempted suicides in this region in recent weeks.

Professor McGorry said he believed the Border needed another sustained community campaign to raise awareness and reduce the stigma of suicide and mental illness in light of the reports.

“If this was the road toll, it would be discussed and reported openly and lead to urgent action,” he said.

“At the very least this needs some soul-searching.”

In August 2012, The Border Mail launched a community campaign to win funding for a headspace centre in Albury-Wodonga as part of its Ending the Suicide Silence series. 

The Border’s push went all the way to Canberra, along with more than 4000 signed butterflies and a petition with close to 2000 signatures.

In June 2013, then federal health minister Mark Butler announced Albury-Wodonga would get one of 15 new headspace youth mental health services and the facility opened its doors in January 2015. 

On the back of that campaign was borne the annual Winter Solstice for Survivors of Suicide evening and Albury-Wodonga Big Splash on March 1 to raise money for the local headspace.

On Thursday Professor McGorry and new federal health minister Greg Hunt announced funding for a headspace at Grafton.

During his visit to the city, Mr Hunt met with bereaved families, suicide prevention advocates and service providers and spoke openly of his own experiences with mental illness.

“The recent loss to suicide of so many young lives in the region is an immense tragedy,” Mr Hunt said.

“These deaths have had a marked impact on family, friends and the community.”

Professor McGorry said it was heartening to see a federal health minister with such a “sincere interest” in mental health.