West Waterford Suicide Prevention Group along with HUGG (Healing Untold Grief Groups) & Grow Mental Health lit up the West Waterford town of Lismore by organising a Candle of Hope night.
Hundreds of candles lit up Millenium Park, allowing people to remember loved ones and symbolise hope.
The event marked World Mental Health Day on Thursday, October 10th.
The event featured an evening of talks from HUGG and Grow Mental Health, followed by the lighting of hundreds of candles in Lismore’s Millennium Park.
Vice-Chairman of the West Waterford Suicide Prevention Group, John Ryan said that the group was founded four years ago out of frustration at what is available to people and that it allows people to reflect and remember.
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"It's very emotional for some people because of what they're going through. We try to ease the darkness for them and the struggle and grief journey they're on can be very difficult at times," he said.
"During COVID, the grief journey became very difficult and very harsh on people because they didn't get that important time to say goodbye to their loved ones."
Mr Ryan believes that funding is currently being allocated to the wrong areas.
"There seems to be a lot of funding, but going to the wrong channels. When someone's in crisis at three in the morning, that's the time they need the help. They need to know there's someone at the end of the line."
Tallow based Sinn Féin Councillor Donnchadh Mulcahy says the support received at events in the area highlight the tight knit communities within.
Asked how important it is to have symbolic nights such as Candle of Hope on World Mental Health Day, Cllr Mulcahy responded:
"It is very important that we mark it and we try and break the stigma as best as possible in our community."
