Darkness Into Light Belgium launches suicide prevention campaign for 2026

Suicide prevention charity Darkness Into Light Belgium is counting down to its annual walk on 9 May when people across Belgium will gather before dawn to walk together in remembrance, solidarity and hope.

The 2026 edition of the fundraiser was officially launched at the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) in Brussels.

During the event, a giant cheque for €43,948 (pictured above) – the amount raised during the 2025 campaign – was presented to Community Help Service (CHS) president Jeremy Jennings.

The funds helped ensure that the CHS Helpline, a free, confidential service available 24 hours a day, can continue supporting people across Belgium and beyond who are struggling with their lives or experiencing distress, including suicidal thoughts.

Hosted by EESC president Seamus Boland, the launch was attended by Micheal McGrath, the Irish European Commissioner and patron of Darkness Into Light Belgium, along with three campaign ambassadors and several MEPs.

Commissioner McGrath said Belgium, Ireland and communities from across the world would walk together from darkness into light. “This walk is an opportunity to bring communities together, offering a moment to reflect, show compassion and show support for suicide prevention services.”

Reiterating the importance of talking about suicide prevention, Boland added: “We must continue to destigmatise and demystify issues around mental health. Communities and civil society organisations play a key role in these important efforts by supporting those suffering from mental health challenges and in particular through the provision of much-needed complementary services.”

In thanking participants, volunteers, and supporters whose contributions made the 2025 campaign such a success, Jennings underlined the profound impact the funds had on maintaining the CHS Helpline and ensuring that someone was always there to listen.

One of the most powerful moments of the evening came from Katie Place, a member of the DIL Belgium committee, who recounted the times suicide touched her life and the moment she stepped back from taking her own life.

Its president Sarah Ironside introduced the theme for the 2026 campaign “ONE MILLION STEPS – EVERY STEP COUNTS” with the personal committment to walking one million steps in the lead-up to the May event.

“Early this morning I walked with Katie,” she said. “Katie is why I walk. I have walked 60,000 of the million steps already. But not one single step that I take can begin to be as important as that first step that Katie took.”

Ironside explained that she would also be sharing stories of both loss and hope. “940,000 more steps – every step counts – and with every step I will keep hope in my heart. Hope that the story I tell will inspire others to reach out for help, to call the Helpline, to say ‘I am not OK’, to ask for help.”

A campaign video was shown in which European Parliament president Roberta Metsola (pictured above) sent a message of support.  A harpist welcomed attendees as they arrived, and the event concluded with a performance by the choir of St John’s International School.

Although walks are planned around the country, the main Belgian walk on 9 May will take place at Parc du Cinquantenaire in Brussels. Participants can sign up to join the walk here.

The Darkness into Light initiative was launched in Ireland  2009 and has since been adopted by countries worldwide.

Photos: ©Miguel Angel Vilar