DUVAL COUNTY, Fla. – It can happen in an instant, but the pain it causes others lasts a lifetime -- suicide. It's the eighth leading cause of death in Duval County, the ninth in the state and the 10th in the United States, according to Liz Colavecchio, the chair of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
More than 38,000 people will die from suicide in the U.S. this year. Awareness and prevention is vital to help turn these numbers around.
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"We want to open up the conversation that suicide is preventable, that it's from an underlining mental illness, and hope is available and help is available all the time," she said.
Wednesday is World Suicide Prevention Day and hundreds gathered at the Friendship Fountain for a vigil in honor of those who lost their lives to suicide. Families of suicide victims came together to discuss how to cope with such a tragic situation.
"It's taboo. People hide from it but you can't because it will (take) somebody's life. You need to know the signs, you need to be aware," said Marlon Martinez, who lost his daughter to suicide.
On Oct. 11, there will be a walk at the Jacksonville Landing and Sheriff John Rutherford will be the guest speaker.