How a Queensland family is pushing for change after a devastating loss

Tyler Pask was a dedicated family man.

The father of three often spent his free time playing Minecraft or Pokémon with his children, and to his 10 nieces and nephews, he was the fun uncle.

WARNING: This article contains references to mental health and suicide.

His four younger siblings — Brittany, Ash, Tyarna and Shaylah Pask — remember their older brother as "the most selfless man" who gave his time to help others.

"[He was] the most devoted dad … nothing was ever too much when it came to those kids," Shaylah, 22, said.

"He was everyone's best friend and he made everyone feel so special," added Tyarna, 26.

The Pask family has been cherishing memories with Tyler since he ended his life in October, aged 32.

In the two months since his death, his family — including parents Andrea and Stuart — have channelled their grief into raising awareness about men's mental health.

"If we can have these tough conversations about how we lost our brother to suicide — if it helps one man — then it's worth having," Tyarna said.

Balancing family duties and work on the front lines

Tyler, originally from Melbourne, served as an auxiliary firefighter and communications officer for the Queensland Fire Department in Maryborough, Rockhampton and Gracemere.

The job first piqued his interest when, at 27 while working at a Wide Bay cafe, he met emergency service workers.

With an insatiable curiosity, he listened to their daily chatter.

"He was a barista and he would serve firefighters and he'd hear conversations about a job they had done," Tyarna said.

"And he goes, 'I'm doing that, that [being a firefighter] is for me.'"

"[He] instantly was hooked. I think he really liked the feeling of being a first responder and helping people out," Brittany added.

Sharing his struggles

Away from work, Tyler was a passionate advocate for men's mental health since losing his best friend to suicide nearly a decade ago.

He would grow a moustache through November to show support for the global men's mental health movement "Movember" and last year ran 60 kilometres in firefighting gear to raise awareness.

He was also open with his family about his own mental health and his plans to seek out professional help.

"He [was] very open about the fact that he was struggling but he made it seem like he will be OK," Shaylah said.

"We just didn't know the extent of it."

Concerning statistics

Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data showed the regions from Central Queensland to the Sunshine Coast — including Wide Bay — had the state's second-highest rate of suicide in 2024, behind Northern Queensland.

And according to the Queensland Mental Health Commission, the rate of suicides last year among men aged between 25 and 34 was the second-highest in the state.

Brave Brothers is a Bundaberg-based grassroots charity working to reduce stigma around men's mental and other health issues.

David Facer, the organisation's managing director, says the Wide Bay is a complex region exacerbated by a range of socioeconomic issues.

"The area is a mixture of rural, industrial, agricultural, fisheries and industry so where we have that, it's a huge mixing pot of the opportunity for situational distress," he said.

Mr Facer said isolation was a risk factor for men, especially in rural areas, as they often struggled to "release some emotional baggage or discuss those situational concerns."

"Historically when men have [shown genuine connections] in our community or reach out for support, they're seen as weak or lesser," he said.

"I think we need to flip the narrative and get better at listening to people, what they're saying to us, and how they're saying it."

'Change the world'

That is also what the Pask family is pushing to change.

Heartened by an overwhelming outpouring of support at Tyler's funeral — which included more than 1,000 people paying their respects and a full guard of honour send-off — his siblings and parents are a united force pushing for change.

In 2026, they'll be sharing Tyler's story at events including Movember and Out of the Shadows walks, fundraising for mental health causes and working alongside organisations that support first responders in regional areas.

Brittany said change was desperately needed to ensure men like Tyler felt comfortable reaching out for support.

"We really want to push for some more help for men who are in this situation because they don't feel they can talk as openly or be taken as seriously as women," she said.

"He will change the world and we can be part of the reason that he continues to save people's lives."