FIVE. When you say it, it’s a relatively small figure. That’s because it is.

But when you equate that very same number to how many friends’ ex paramedic Dave Cameron has lost through suicide it suddenly becomes an overwhelming and staggering figure.

For that very reason the golf tragic quit his job over a year ago to solely focus on men’s mental health awareness.

Dave’s self-founded venture, Survivor Golf has a mission and purpose to unite, empower and connect men and to create national awareness around mental health and men’s suicide prevention.

“I was an ambulance paramedic for 12.5 years and it was a great career,” Dave told Newsport.

“I worked quite closely in the last three years in the mental health space, and during this time I did a lot of mental health training which I really enjoyed.

“My three major passions are sport, the media and mental health and those three ideals brought together the name, Survivor Golf.”

It hasn’t taken long for Survivor Golf to provide telling benefits for men.

“Through Survivor Golf we’re creating such exposure for men’s mental health awareness,” he said.

“Whatever format that is through these tournaments we’re finding men are telling and sharing their stories off camera, on camera, and reaching out for help where they need it.

“Ultimately Survivor Golf is about starting the conversation about mental health, that’s why it has been created.”

Dave’s been personally affected by the struggles men face in their daily lives.

“One of the reasons for exiting the Ambulance service is that I lost four close friends I was working with to suicide and after the fourth that was enough to get out of the ambulance service,” he explained.

“I only had a (fifth) friend involved in Survivor Golf take his own life less than a few days ago - it’s devastating to lose a friend like that.

“I hope Survivor Golf can create talking points and create a movement where we can increase men’s mental health awareness and decrease men’s suicide.”

You can learn more about the Survivor Golf series by visiting the official page on Facebook.