Stewart Locke found himself struggling with mental health after leaving the military several years ago.
"A lot of people obviously don't mention anything about suicide. To be honest I was there in 2015," he said.
It was thoughts of his children that brought him back from the brink.
"I couldn't allow my kids to grow up without a father," he said.
Wanting to help others after his experience, the Townsville resident has created a space for veterans and serving defence members to chat over a coffee — and it has proved lifesaving.
"A lot of them feel lost," he said.
"There [are] even current serving members who feel lost a lot, and if it wasn't for this place, where would they go?"
Mr Locke said some have come through the doors of his business, which provides a kiosk for veterans and members to catch up, as a last resort.
"Just from coming here we've been able to chat to them," he said.
"We said we are happy to help, we gave them our opinion and they took that away to a professional provider and [the provider] gave them the help they needed."
Stories like Mr Locke's are echoed across Townsville, Australia's largest garrison city.
They will be the focus when the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide holds public hearings in Townsville next week.
Searching for further insights
The commission will spend this week meeting with those currently serving, veterans and north Queensland support groups to drill down into the key issues outside the confines of the hearings.
"We're going to look at the impact on families of service, we're going to look at transition issues, support programs that are offered to members and their families," Commissioner Nick Kaldas said.
So far, the commission has received 1,590 submissions.
About 13 per cent were from current serving personnel.
It is hoped those meetings, coupled with a visit to Australia's largest military base, will provide greater insights ahead of the hearings.
"It's a great opportunity for the commissioners and defence to give context to the commissioners on service life and give them that background to some of the questions they have," Director of Defence Royal Commission Taskforce Lieutenant Colonel Michael Black said.
Commissioner Kaldas said he also wanted to reiterate evidence could be provided anonymously.
"We're very happy to oblige in terms of anybody who says they don't want anyone to know they have spoken to us," Commissioner Kaldas said.
"Every person that comes forward on that basis, their evidence and their submission will be treated with absolute confidentiality guaranteed."
While Mr Locke has opened up through his coffee shop, he said he was not surprised some others had been reluctant to come forward.
Like many of his mates, Mr Locke said he hoped the process would yield some tangible results.
"The general feeling among the community is that they're pretty happy with finally getting a commission happening, now they are just waiting for it to hurry up and finalise," he said.
The hearing will run in Townsville until June 30 before heading to Hobart.
