"Too many, way too many," he said. "It's not the right way to go."
To close Mental Health Awareness Week, the reality TV groom revealed he lost half of his close friends as well as five from his larger circle.
He was at his suit fitting for the Three show in August when he received news that yet another buddy from his tightknit group of mates in Lennox Head, New South Wales, had taken his own life.
"Before we started shooting for Married at First Sight, I had a suit fitting and I got a phone call from Australia that one our mates had decided to kill himself," he said.
"It was upsetting and it was daunting.
"The saddest thing is, that circle of friends - that was the fifth guy, the rest of us who are left, we're struggling to wonder why they didn't talk."
He explained that it was predominately males who he's lost, but also one young woman included who had battled mental health issues over a period of time.
"She could possibly be at a better place, but I don't think so," Wayne told Newshub.
Wayne often reflects on how he could have helped. It impacts his everyday life.
"We were all there, we were all good mates.
"One phone call, 'Hey I'm struggling, I can't deal with this at the moment' or 'Hey I need to get away' - anything. I just wish they talked.
"After one does it, we all get together and we all hang out and we bond, and we talk and we go 'Jesus guys, is everyone alright?
"It's like a year later and another one does it, and you're sitting there doing the same conversation again.
"I think about it, not kidding, every day. It saddens me and now it has got to a point where it's too many - it makes me angry that they're doing this, and it makes me pissed off that there's not more help.
"We always had couches and spare bedrooms where they could go and talk and we wouldn't judge. I don't know why they just didn't realise or know that option was there.
He's hoping by sharing the pain he's experienced, it will encourage others - especially men - to speak up about how they are feeling.
"I think it's a masculine thing, they're just too proud or strong," he said. "I don't know where to start and I don't know where to stop on trying to help.
"It's been a thing probably the last 15 years where it's always been around every year, there's been a loss or someone affected by it.
"One was a mate's dad; one was my best mate's brother; one was a quiet 17-year-old girl. Then the main demographic that affects me, the young guys.
"These young males and females need to know where they can reach out, because obviously they are scared to talk to their friends or family because it is looked at as a weakness."
Therapist Leanne French told Newshub there are many reasons why a person feeling suicidal won't speak out while they are in a dark place.
She said the rational logic is replaced with excuses, including that they don't want to drag anyone else down or believe they will never hear what they need to - often someone suffering won't recognise what that is.
Too many times, they just want the pain to end and want an escape.
"In other cases when people are depressed, they don't reach out for help because they can't find the energy to," French said.
"Their thinking gets jammed and they either don't want to bring other people down or worry them, and often the truth is that non-professionals don't always know how to help fix them.
"Professionals will help with specific techniques like mindfulness that can help calm the anxiety while challenging and changing black and white thinking, catastrophising and underestimating an ability to cope."
She said identifying positive future solutions to situations is key.
"Suicidal people tend to just want their pain to end, and need help to know they can get through this moment, that company and sleep will help get them to tomorrow, another day that is possible to be filled with help and solutions.
"Usually they just want relief from pain not to actually end their life. Validate their pain, but don't allow them to go any deeper into despair."
Wayne is pleading for Kiwis to eliminate any stigma that it is weak to feel down or speak out: "It's not".
"Life is tough, life is shit at times. You're allowed to feel shit.
"It does get better and it does get brighter, and for this period of time that you're struggling, try to seek help.
"You're not only ending your own life - you could possibly be ending someone else's as well."
Newshub.
Where to find help and support:
Need to Talk? - Call or text 1737
Lifeline - 0800 543 354 or (09) 5222 999 within Auckland
Youthline - 0800 376 633, text 234, email talk@youthline.co.nz or online chat
Samaritans - 0800 726 666
Depression Helpline - 0800 111 757
- Suicide Crisis Helpline - 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO)
