The annual Darkness Into Light walks will bring thousands of people across the country together over this weekend in an effort to raise funds to support suicide and self-harm prevention in Ireland.

Labour MEP Aodhán Ó’Ríordáin wrote on Linkedin earlier in the week that advertisements for the event used to make him wince, but that when a friend posted about his own fundraising efforts, he began to reflect on his attitude.

In the piece, he said that “the reality is that in the recent past I had my own darkness to deal with."

Mr Ó’Ríordáin told The Anton Savage Show he wanted to give the message that “if anybody is going through a period of darkness, that it’s not unusual”.

“In terms of Darkness Into Light, I had to reflect on it because a friend of mine was doing it and I kind of reflected as to why I haven’t really leaned into this in the past,” he said.

“I mean, normally, politicians will go on the walk and it’s just not something I’ve ever really wanted to do.

“When reflecting on why that was, it was because I had my own issues that I don’t think going to an event like that was going to help me.”

Darren and Lorna Hayden pictured in Greystones Co Wicklow taking part in Pieta’s Darkness Into Light 2021. Picture Andres Poveda

Mr Ó’Ríordáin said that “every single person’s darkness is their own”, and so each person’s journey in dealing with these struggles is bound to be a unique experience.

However, he said that he had found it helpful to seek “a level of professional help”.

“I think what it does is that when you have the dark clouds in the head, you go, ‘I have somewhere to go and somebody to talk to about that at an allotted time next Monday’,” he said.

“It puts it off into a certain part of your week – that's what it did for me.”

Mr Ó’Ríordáin said he doesn’t have “a one-liner or a book or a podcast or a piece of advice for people”, but said he felt compelled to let people know they aren’t alone in their struggles.

You can donate to Darkness Into Light at darknessintolight.ie.

Pieta House contact lines:

24-hour freephone crisis helpline: 1800 247 247

Therapy Services team: 0818 111 126

Text counselling: Text HELP to 51444

Main image: Katy Meghan, Aine Marmion, Ava Lambe, Robyn Murphy pictured in Greystones Co Wicklow taking part in Pieta’s Darkness Into Light 2021. Picture Andres Poveda