RON Petterson is passionate about raising suicide awareness and has now made it his business to do just that.

Last Thursday, a Management Board for the Whitsunday Suicide Prevention Network was created in a bid to increase community awareness.

Chairman of the board and Division 2 Councillor, Cr Petterson said last year he and four others came together to work with Wesley Mission to establish the group.

"We formulated a network to be established in the Whitsundays because suicide rates are at alarming levels here - one of the highest in the state and it's frightening,” he said.

"The concept is to create a network of stakeholders in the region including the police, Lifeline, Whitsunday Crisis and Counselling, to come together and share ideas and work together as a group to try and combat the issue.”

The board is made up of five members - Steve Alexander (treasurer), Cr Petterson (chairman), Cassandra Holczey (secretary), Jack Lumby (vice chairman) and Kevin Fancke (communications officer). With World Suicide Prevention Day on Saturday, Cr Petterson said the board would work to raise awareness and remove the attached stigma.

He said future programs were already "in the pipeline” to help people recognise the signs of suicide and help those affected understand there was help out there.

"It's hard to find someone who hasn't been touched by suicide personally or closely,” he said.

"It's something we, as a community, need to come together for to make a difference.”

For more information about the network and its aims, contact Cr Petterson on 0408544558.