Service supports lives tormented by suicide

Instead she will mark three years since the married father-of-three committed suicide and left her asking "why?"

"There was no note," Mrs Hawley said.

"It was completely unexpected."

The Edgeworth mother will tell of the moment she learned of Darren's death and the torment in the years that followed during a memorial day service at Newcastle Railway Sheds today.

"You feel like you can't function you know you have to, but you can't," she said.

"Anniversaries and birthdays are the hardest. The day passes and I think how I've lived another day without seeing Darren. Now I think I'm just another day closer to seeing him again."

The Wesley Mission LifeForce service, which starts at 1pm, aims to bring together those whom suicide has touched.

A memorial wall will be in place so people can post photos, a personalised message, or memento, to remember lost loved ones.

"People don't want to talk about suicide, but it does happen," Mrs Hawley said.

Wesley Mission chief executive Keith Garner said every suicide affected at least 15 family members and friends and increased their chances of dying from suicide.

"It's vital to break the silence on suicide so we don't perpetuate the cycle of despair that began the tragedy," Reverend Garner said.

"Suicide obeys no demographic profile it just looks for troubled hearts."

Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show suicide accounts for more deaths than homicide and road accidents combined, while the Hunter's Lifeline hotline fields more than 50 suicide calls each week.

Lifeline 13 11 14

Kids Helpline 1800 551 800