ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — More than 100 people gathered at Francis Field in St. Augustine on Sunday morning for the Out of the Darkness Walk for suicide prevention, remembering loved ones lost to suicide and reminding those struggling they are not alone.
Families and survivors turned grief into hope, one step at a time. Participants wore colorful beads in honor of those they have lost - each bead representing a different loss, a personal struggle or a commitment to prevention.
“We’re here as a community to show individuals that you are not alone and that we’re here to support each other,” said Candi Morris, a board member with the North Florida Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
“I lost my father in 2015, so I wear a gold bead,” Morris said.
Fellow chapter board member Wendy Merce wears purple for her goddaughter, Hannah, whom she lost to suicide in 2019.
“Purple is loss of a relative or a friend. So I wear that for Hannah,” she said.
Merce said she join the walks to bring more attention to mental health so other families won’t have to face that same heartbreak.
Organizers want people to know they can reach out for help by calling or texting 9-8-8, and that they have a community behind them.
“There is always hope, and if you’re worried about somebody or self, you can reach out to ‘988’ and they will help you with resources. They’ll help guide you with the next steps,” Merce said.
The next suicide prevention walk will take place in Jacksonville on Nov. 14.
“Here we are as a community gathered saying, it is OK, you know? And so there’s a lot of hugs and just a lot of support,” Morris said
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