THOUSANDS JOIN LATE NIGHT DARKNESS INTO LIGHT WALK

By Eoin Ryan

Thousands in meath came out at night to join Darkness into Light walks in several towns across Meath and raise funds for the suicide and self harm prevention charity Pieta.

Darkness into Light is an annual event starting at 4:15 am and ending as the sun comes up with tens of thousands taking part every year across several countries. Events took place across several locations in Meath including Trim, Navan, Moynalty, Laytown/ Bettystown, and Ratoath.

Darkness into Light began in 2009 with 400 people taking part in a walk in Phoenix Park to raise money for Pieta. It has now grown to become an international event raising millions each year for Pieta house. Events took place in New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong, Poland, Belgium, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Spain, Gibraltar, the UK and

South Africa. €4.5 million was raised last year that went towards funding 156 helpline hours, 10,956 crisis counselling sessions and 6,123 therapy sessions.

Pieta said it enables the organisation to provide free suicide prevention, intervention and bereavement support to people of all ages across Ireland. Its 24/7 crisis helpline received almost 100,000 calls and texts and supported close to 700 households bereaved by suicide. Chief Executive of Pieta Stephanie Manahan told RTE that Pieta house “have a team of about 160 therapists and counsellors who are providing in-person and virtual or on-the-phone therapy, depending on what people need and want.”

“we have an incredible bereavement team as well, who are supporting people who have been bereaved from suicide”. 35% of Pieta house clients in 2022 were aged between 18-35 years old and 36% of clients were under 18.

Stephanie Manahan said the charity is “really trying to reach out to our young people in particular, but also older people need to know that we’re here for them”. “Whether you’re rural Ireland, whether you’re urban Ireland, we’re here for you,”