Travis Collins: Turning a devastating personal loss into a passion for suicide prevention

R U OK? ambassador and country music legend Travis Collins has turned a devastating personal loss into a passion for suicide prevention. Travis lost someone incredibly special in 2013. His best mate and father-in-law took his own life leaving his family and close-knit rural community, heartbroken.

The three times 2017 Golden Guitar winner (Single of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Male Artist) reached out to country music fans at this year’s T amworth Country Music Festival by encouraging them to check in with their mates and loved ones.

In conjunction with R U OK? Travis hosted, ‘Conversations in the Park’ , an open-air public event to share tips, strategies and stories about how to start life changing conversations with anyone who might be going through tough times.

Travis arrived in the park at 8.30am after an early night, despite winning his amazing trifecta of Golden Guitars the night before and endearing him to the crowd even more.

He performed a few favourites including Song of the Year about the loss of his father-in-law to suicide, ‘Call me Crazy.’ The song resonated with many in the crowd, some of whom were in tears recognizing their own losses through Travis’ heartfelt words.

He also shared some of his own personal story of loss and the impact it had on his family and town.

Travis’ father-in-law was considered the town larrikin, a big-hearted man who had struggles like all of us, but no one thought those struggles would lead him to take his own life.

“The loss of my father-in-law completely rattled the foundations of our family. No one in the town would have picked it, but in hindsight there were red flags that I didn’t notice because it was him. I thought, ‘It won’t happen to us. He’s too happy,” Travis said.

The inaugural event was a huge success with over 200 visitors in attendance. Fellow country music performers Amber Lawrence and Missy Lancaster also dropped by in support of R U OK? sharing their own stories and a few surprise songs, with fans.

R U OK? CEO Brendan Maher spoke about the importance of empowering people to meaningfully connect with each other and Tamworth Rural Adversity Mental Health Program ( RAMHP) coordinator Kate Arndell encouraged linking rural people to the help they need.