World Suicide Prevention awareness was marked over the weekend – and a former Kiwi rugby league international says there needs to be greater awareness about how to recognise the sign of potential suicide.

Suicide Prevention ambassador Paul Whatuira, of Ngati Kahungunu and Tainui has battled depression for years after being abused as a child.

He says his biggest mistakes were hiding his mental traumas by acting tough, not asking for help, and letting the bad things in his life make him forget reasons to be grateful.

“Sometimes we are focusing on too much information and all we can do is take one day at a time. I know it’s a cliché but whakamoemiti, gratitude, has worked for me and changed my line round being grateful for the things that I do have more so than the things I do not,” Mr Whatuira says.

He says says depression and suicide are a major problem for Maori – and asking for help earlier could save years of pain.