There is no doubt that society and governments have become more supportive of people living with mental ill-health, and people should not fear speaking up and seeking help for whatever their struggles.

Grappling with a pandemic has made this year challenging for most and the 2020 World Mental Health Day theme is centred around the difficulties faced by healthcare workers, everyday people anxious about their futures or financial insecurity, and those who have lost loved ones or have been separated for long periods.

The World Health Organisation expects the need for mental health and psycho-social support to substantially rise in coming months and years ahead as a result of COVID-19, and has called on people to campaign for increased investment in services.

There is a feasibility study examining Tasmania's need for a veteran wellbeing centre. We are the only state without one. Tasmania has one of the largest veteran populations as a proportion of population in the nation and the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report released yesterday showed ex-servicemen were 21 per cent more likely to die by suicide than fellow Australian men. The rate for ex-servicewomen is almost double that for all women.

Why do we need a feasibility study to tell us that these veterans, as those in other states have, need and deserve support? Let's hope the Tasmanian Suicide Register report also released yesterday allows the state government to hone in on areas of urgent need, including better preventative measures to help people before they become acutely unwell.

It's up to all Tasmanians to work together in reducing the stigma, identifying signs of struggle and lending support when needed. The risks are simply too high and the costs too great if we don't.