Suicide and its heartbreaking impact on members of our community were the catalysts for an emotional walk across the LH Ford Bridge in Dubbo on Saturday.
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About 200 people gathered to remember their loved ones who have died by suicide.
Organised by the National Association for Loss and Grief (NALAG), this year's Walk Towards Hope attracted the largest crowd since the event began 11 years ago.
Joan Talbot has attended every Walk Towards Hope. Her only son Shannon was a mental health nurse, father of four girls and aged just 34 when he tragically died by suicide.
"It's [the suicide rate] getting worse, it doesn't matter what they're throwing at it, it's not working," Mrs Talbot said.
"We have to talk about this, there's no use hiding it.
"The more we talk about it, the easier it becomes."
Mrs Talbot was joined on the work by family members including her daughter Shiree, who said "when people are in a crisis situation they should have access to urgent mental health support".
Narromine resident Anne Schofield was another parent who walked to honour the memory a loved one.
Her beloved daughter Bec was a popular school teacher who died by suicide at the age of 30.
Mrs Schofield said she will never be able to forget the moment when police arrived at her home and informed her that Bec had died.
"We'd been to a Tim McGraw concert in Sydney, we went shopping together [in the day's before Bec's death]... I had no idea what was about to happen," she said.
"You never forget but your life goes on one day at a time."
When the walk ended, a remembrance ceremony was held at Lions Park.
A Walk Towards Hope commemorative plaque was unveiled during the ceremony and it will sit permanently at the park, attached to a large memorial stone Dubbo Regional Council provided the NALAG.
Dubbo's Walk Towards Hope event took place ahead of World Suicide Prevention Day on Tuesday.
One person around the world dies by suicide every 40 seconds, according to the International Association for Suicide Prevention.
- If you or someone you know needs urgent support you can talk to someone you trust or call Beyond Blue on1300 22 46 36, Lifeline on 13 11 14, or 000 if emergency care is needed.
