The hardest thing is to lose is your child before you die. I truly sympathise with the Milne and Russell families - and so does the Bay coroner Wallace Bain. Mr Bain was moved to refer the suicides of Brad Milne and Brendan Russell to the Law Commission because of his frustration over the on-going failure of mental health support.
It has been well publicised that New Zealand has the highest suicide rate amongst young people in the OECD, yet we still skirt around the subject.
Let's be honest, many of the suicides are connected with mental health issues, particularly depression and bipolar.
A lot of these suicides would not have occurred if there was a truly connected mental health support service, and an after-care programme. I am talking about peer-led support services.
They are people who have lived with depression and bipolar, and have carried on. They are advocates who have so much hope to offer other sufferers. They need to be involved.
Earlier this year, we established the Matt Skellern Bipolar Trust to enhance the mental health support systems in New Zealand, particularly regarding bipolar.
We are completing extensive research and a gap analysis into the current services.
After establishing the trust, we have created a growing database of people with bipolar who have contacted us because they didn't know where to turn.
There is one simple answer: People struggling with handling their mental condition need to talk with advocates who have been there and have worked through it.
You would be amazed about the gaps in the mental health system, when it really matters.
Depression, bipolar should no longer be sidelined. It's a silent problem. Talented people are taking their lives because they lose hope. Why?

Graham Skellern, Matapihi.