The shire had a spate of suicides in the early '90s, including a period of 18 months when 12 young people took their lives.

A range of strategies introduced generated community support and awareness, resulting in the shire having a dramatic decrease in suicides and suicide attempts over the past 10 years. However, a suicide and a number of attempted suicides in September last year prompted the council to organise a forum last December.

At the forum, principals from the shire's five secondary schools - Gisborne Secondary, Kyneton Secondary, Braemar, Sacred Heart and Macedon Grammar - met for the first time to address the need for a comprehensive mental health promotion program in all Macedon Ranges secondary schools.

Macedon Ranges Council youth development team leader Pauline Neil said it was timely to revisit and learn from past strategies.

Expected to reach about 3000 local students, staff and parents via all secondary schools in the region, the program aims to reduce the risk factors and increase the protective factors associated with self-harm and suicide.

Ms Neil said the program would raise awareness about mental health issues among young people across the shire.

"If only one school was getting information on how to look out for each other and what to look for, we would not be doing our job properly.

"We are trying to take a shirewide approach and we have numbers that are quite manageable so we can achieve it."

Funding for a full-time council employee to implement the program in its first 12 months has been secured.

The position will begin next month.

The council has committed about $60,000 to the initiative, while Cobaw Community Health has contributed about $15,000.

Phase one of the primary prevention program will target secondary school communities and phase two will target early school-leavers.

Details on depression and mental health issues: contact 1300 224 636 or www.beyondblue.org.au