Tauranga youth are hoping to break the silence on the subject of suicide with a HopeWalk from Memorial Park to Sulphur Point on September 8.

This is the second year the international suicide prevention walk has been held in the city and organised by youth group Young Connex, a group of 16 to 18-year-olds who help plan local events in the community.

'The HopeWalk event is to spread awareness of suicide. We want everyone to come together and know there are people to talk to and that it's okay to talk about it,” says Young Connex member Jual Taitua.

The group was set up by Employ NZ youth worker Jana Chase who says the aim of bringing people together in a walk like this is to see that suicide is something that affects your whanau, friends, and neighbours and know that you talk to them about it.

The walk will leave Memorial Park at 1pm on Saturday, September 8 and head through the central city to finish at the Tauranga Fish & Dive Club at Sulphur Point. The walk will be led by the Tauranga Samba Group and marked with the release of doves.

Food trucks and support services such as the Ngai Te Rangi HBU mobile health service and Waipu Hauora will be on-site at Memorial Park from 11am and those who ordered yellow (the international colour for suicide awareness) HopeWalk t-shirts can collect them on the day.

The 3.8km walk is suitable for all ages and while it is free, the organisers would welcome registrations so they can track numbers on the day. Register at www.eventbrite.co.nz

For more information about the HopeWalk email Young Connex: youngconnex@gmail.com