Bruno Efoti, who runs the help group Tradies In Sight in Dubbo said he was looking to spread his work to Orange.

"What I'm hoping to do is to have that started in Orange. I would like to get some funding and have a shed, a drop-in centre," he said.

Mr Efoti said he had been in contact with the member for Orange Phil Donato and Orange mayor Reg Kidd.

"During the pandemic suicide rates have gone through the roof in young people between 16 and 25 in this region," he said.

Mr Efoti said he had been contacted by men in Dubbo and Orange considering suicide.

"A lot of men just won't seek help," he said.

Mr Efoti said he encouraged them to come to his group meetings where they had a meal and had the opportunity to talk about their problems.

He said group activities including restoring cars allowed men to be more relaxed. "My idea was actually encouraging them to open up," he said.

"They are sitting in silence at home."

Mr Efoti said financial issues, relationship issues and work problems were the main causes of suicide in the region during the pandemic.

"After COVID I received a lot more calls from blokes," he said.

Mr Efoti said tradies had become disconnected from their mates during the lockdown.

He said before becoming a trained counsellor he had worked as a carpenter for 20 years and knew of about six tradies who had committed suicide in that time.

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