Nearly 48 million adults in the U.S. say they're dealing with depression. Rates have doubled among young adults since 2017.

Mental health experts at an L.A. County Suicide Prevention Network event discussed how these numbers are impacting local residents.

An uplifting celebration for the local heroes who do the incredibly difficult work of suicide prevention.

"How many of you have visited a park in the last six months," said Mercy Santoro, Deputy Director of East County Community Services Agency for the L.A. County Department of Parks and Recreation.

Visiting parks helped her get through dark days. When she was 12, Santoro lost her father to suicide.

"It became a place of reflection for me and a place where I felt safe," she said.

Santoro believes youth programs at parks can save

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