Pieta urging people to walk their own Darkness into Light this May

Despite the lack of organised events this year, Pieta House is encouraging people to take part in their own Darkness into Light walks or runs in aid of the mental health charity.

Pieta House says that due to its inability to host the popular gatherings last year, the charity “faced a funding crisis, but Ireland came together as one community and got behind the event, with hundreds of thousands rising at dawn and sharing sunrise moments from across the country.

“The support that shone through was nothing short of amazing with over €4 million raised following a tremendous public fundraising effort to ensure Pieta could continue to deliver their services through 2020.”

The charity says that the 2021 has been tough for people with the ongoing pandemic and subsequent physical and mental health affects.

A Pieta House spokesperson says that calls and texts to the helpline rose by 25% in December 2010 compared to December 2019 and is expecting the number of calls and texts to remain high.

“People are struggling with loneliness; a fact that is worsened with physical distance measures in place,” says the charity.

“Pieta relies on the generous support of those who participate in Darkness Into Light each year to provide this important national mental health service free of charge, 24/7.

“While Covid-19 has been difficult Darkness Into Light is a chance for communities to look towards brighter days to come while sharing One Sunrise Together on May 8th.”

In 2020, Pieta delivered over 52,000 hours of therapy and answered over 70,000 calls and texts for help through their 24/7 crisis helpline.

The charity says it helped 3015 people across Dublin in 2020 and provided 50,824 hours of counselling in 2020 and 2019 at its Dublin centres.

Speaking about this year’s Darkness into Light, Elaine Austin, Pieta CEO, said: “We have all been faced with some incredible and daunting challenges over the last year.

“Pieta is here to support all of those in suicidal crisis and our free counselling has continued, uninterrupted throughout the Covid lockdowns.

“Our clinical team provide services over the phone, via text and in-person in twenty centres nationwide and, since last year, we now provide free counselling over video.

“Darkness Into Light is crucial in delivering the funds needed to support this level of service.

“We have a great partnership with Electric Ireland and the company have been unwavering in their support over the years.

“We are grateful too for our Darkness into Light committees who galvanise support for the event across the country year after year.

“It’s important for all of us to hold on to hope and Darkness Into Light gives us the opportunity to come together under this one common purpose, to remember our loved ones and to help those struggling at this time, and I do hope you will all join us on May 8th.”

To get involved and take part in your own sunrise walk, run, swim or cycle etc. in aid of Pieta, you can sign up at www.darknessintolight.ie.