A postcard-perfect sun rose over Bondi Beach in Sydney this morning as 1,600 people, most of them Irish, walked towards the dawn for the annual Darkness Into Light event in aid of Irish suicide prevention charity Pieta House.
There were tears, cheers, hugs and smiles as a shivering crowd gathered in pitch darkness at the Bondi Surf Bather’s Life Saving Club on the promenade at 5am to collect their yellow t-shirts. Friends and couples clutched each other during a moment’s silence to remember those who have died by suicide, before the runners and walkers set off along the 5km circuit to Tamarama and back around the cliffs to Bondi Beach.
This was Sydney's third year hosting Darkness Into Light. Walks also took place in Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane and Darwin in Australia, one of nine countries worldwide where dawn walks are being held today.
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Organisers are expecting a total of 120,000 people to participate in DIL events across the globe.
More than $50,000 (€32,300) was raised in Sydney alone. Proceeds will be split between Pieta House and local Australian charity Batyr, which runs mental health awareness workshops in for young people in schools and universities.
“Darkness Into Light is about highlighting the issue of suicide and mental health in a light way, and letting people know that if they do have an issue, there are almost 2,000 people here this morning who are willing to listen,” said Neil O’Sullivan, a spokesman for DIL Sydney who lost a close friend to suicide in Dublin seven years ago.
“He had a beautiful girlfriend, was very successful, and no one knew he was suffering. Events like this make talking about mental health more normal.”
Mr O’Sullivan, who has been living in Australia for five years, said the global DIL event was about bringing the Irish community together around the world, and letting them know they are supported far from home.
“If you have any underlying issues around mental health, if you are anxious or stressed or depressed, and you are on the other side of the world where your parents and brothers and sisters and friends aren’t around, it is even more difficult,” he said.
The Irish Support Agency of New South Wales, which provides assistance to vulnerable Irish people, has seen a substantial increase in the number of mental health-related cases in recent years as the Irish population in Australia has increased. A new support service with Irish counsellors is planned for the coming months.
“Australia has everything on paper to be the best place in the world, but that doesn’t matter if you have depression. A Skype call is all well and good, but it is not the same as being with family and loved ones. I think it is even more important for expats, wherever they are in the world, to be aware of that and open about how they are feeling,” Mr O’Sullivan said.
David Breen, a project manager from Ferns in Co Wexford who has been living in Australia for two years, was joined on the walk this morning by 25 team mates from Clan na Gael GAA in Sydney. "Everyone knows someone, or has a friend or family member who has been affected by suicide. Growing up there were people in my school who died by suicide, people in my local village. When you are away from home it is nice for the Irish community to make sure we stand together and know we have support when you are so far away from family and friends in Ireland. "
Áine Whelan, a financial services consultant also from Co Wexford, joined the DIL Sydney committee this year. Her father died by suicide 13 years ago.
“There were people here today who have been very recently impacted by suicide. To see the support that is out there is incredible,” she said.
"It is fascinating going onto Facebook and seeing your whole feed is Darkness Into Light, from people in China, New York, London... you have that feeling that we are all connected around the world for the one reason."
