In the face of despair and the worst of circumstances "when we feel like we're failing", that's when we have to cling to our connection as humans - and hold on.

Father Mitch, the assistant priest at St John's Anglican Church, Wodonga and former minister for All Saints Anglican Church at Corryong, has conducted funerals for four men who have taken their lives in the past two years.

Corryong lost another of its young sons in recent weeks while the Border region is reeling from two devastating deaths.

Father Mitch well understands the pain and the despair, the feeling of how on earth do we stem the tide of suicide?

"Everyone I have spoken to is asking, 'What are we doing wrong, what are we missing?'" he says.

"We keep busting ourselves to slow it down, to stop it and some days it can feel like we are having no effect."

Father Mitch acknowledges suicide is still an epidemic that goes under the radar.

"It's the number one cause of death for young blokes between 15 and 18 and men under the age of 50," he says.

"The most likely thing to kill you is yourself."

So what on earth do we hold onto?

In his ministry Father Mitch urges his flock to talk to someone, talk to anyone.

"There are people all around you who want nothing else than for you to overcome whatever you are struggling with and be the best that you can be," he says.

"Even if you've made poor decisions or you've been in poor circumstances, don't take away the chance for things to get better ... don't make an irreversible decision.

"Each and every one of us is here for a purpose; each life has value."

Father Mitch acknowledges there are hundreds of lead-in factors to suicide and so much more work needs to be done to address its underpinnings.

But there's one thing he's certain of, we need to keep talking and reaching out: "God said to St Paul, 'Do not be afraid, do not be silent'."

"We've got to keep speaking about better ways to deal with the mental health crisis," he adds.

Father Mitch sees the annual Albury-Wodonga Winter Solstice on June 21 as a "form of communion to bring everyone together" on the pressing issues that matter and that affect all of us.

"Especially for us in the North East, it's still happening," he says.

"We are not dealing with the aftermath of something that's been and gone, suicide is still present.

"We still have to keep trying to carry that cross further up the hill - we have to keep believing the darkness can't win."

Father Mitch says abiding by God's teaching to "love thy neighbour" is a lesson to live by.

"We can't stop even when we feel like we're failing," he urges.

"It's an extraordinary human trait that people will do things for others they might not do for themselves.

"When you are talking to someone lost in the darkness, or grief-stricken, don't treat them like they have a disease.

"Let them know it's not their fault, acknowledge their pain and the fact you can't fix it but let them know you are willing to sit there in the shit and be there for them when they need you to be."

"When people are finding it hard, when they're in the dark, the best thing is to be with other people ... they need someone else to help carry that cross for a while.

"Most importantly let then know they are loved and the world is a better place with them in it."

And to all the campaigners trying valiantly to enact change are these words of encouragement: "Fight the good fight, keep the faith and finish the race!"