In October, Tyler Pask, only 32 years old, sadly died by suicide. His death – fully avoidable and preventable – left a wife, three young children and a tight-knit family and community devastated. His sisters, Brittany, Ash, Tyarna and Shaylah Pask, remember him fondly. They continue to think of him as “the most selfless man” who spent his life serving and helping others. They want to fulfill what would have been his greatest dream. Their mission is to engage and encourage greater awareness of mental health for all, including men who often suffer in silence.
In addition to being a dedicated father to his three children, Tyler was a passionate advocate for men’s mental health. He was transparent with specific members of his family about his challenges. He stressed the importance of reaching out for professional help. In all of that frankness, somehow, Marlon still made you feel like he would be okay. This was the kind of complexity Shaylah had to muse on. She said, “He was so transparent about his own struggles, but he just really gave the impression that he was gonna be all right.”
A Life of Service and Community
As Tyler went about his craft at Alowishus Delicious – a little café in Maryborough, Queensland, he quickly started to build a bit of a reputation for himself. His path into public service began as a barista in Queensland’s Wide Bay region. It was there that he found his true calling—firefighting. He was an auxiliary firefighter and communications officer with the QLD Fire Department in Maryborough, Rockhampton and Gracemere.
His passion and commitment to mental health advocacy shone through in many initiatives including his weekly Twitter chats. He took part in Movember by growing a moustache to raise awareness of men’s mental health. On top of that, Tyler completed a 60-kilometre run while wearing firefighting gear to draw attention to the issue. His commitment did not slip by unnoticed. His brothers and sisters remembered all the times he enjoyed being a first responder. Brittany said, “He was just hooked right away. I think he really enjoyed the thrill that came with being a first responder and saving people.”
From then on, Tyler devoted his life to serving his community. His fondness for his children set the tone for his reputation as a nurturing family man. Shaylah told CBS that, “He was the most loving father… nothing was too much for him, all about those kids.” He really loved connecting with them on a deeper level through playing games like Minecraft and Pokémon together.
The Struggles of Men’s Mental Health
The loss of Tyler has brought up many crucial conversations regarding mental health support for men in their community. Local mental health advocate David Facer tackled one of those challenges, explaining how men often have difficulty reaching out for help on their own. He continued, “And ultimately, when men have connected authentically to our community, or reached out for support—men have been called weak or less than.”
Facer told us that there needs to be a cultural change in how men can approach conversations about their mental health. We need to stop selling ourselves short,” he added. Let’s recognize the power of listening to people, not just hearing their speech, but looking people in the eye and reading their body language. The Pask family would be the first to tell you, as they continue to advocate for more resources and support systems designed for men, that this isn’t enough.
Brittany expressed their desire to create change: “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.” Advocacy from the family seeks to raise awareness and make conversations that may stop this kind of tragedy from happening again possible.
Honoring Tyler’s Memory
The Pask siblings are resolved to make sure that Tyler’s death isn’t just a haunting statistic, but rather a turning point for their community. Tyarna expressed their hope that sharing their story will help others: “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.”
Through their advocacy work, they aspire to create a supportive environment where men can express their emotions and seek help without fear of judgment. Brittany interjected fervently, “Oh, but he will change the world! Together we can do so much to help him in his mission to save millions of lives.
