A public candlelight vigil to remember those who have lost their lives through suicide is to take place in the forecourt of the Bank of Ireland, College Green, Dublin tomorrow night.
The hour-long vigil, organised by the charity 3T's (Turning The Tide of Suicide), will include a candle ceremony, a minute's silence and music.
RTÉ presenter Des Cahill will make an address and light the first candle on behalf of the young people of Ireland.
The vigil begins at 9pm and is being timed to take place in advance of world suicide prevention day this Sunday.
Speaking at a photocall to publicise the event yesterday, Irish international rugby player Shane Horgan said some of the statistics in relation to suicide were "staggering".
Horgan said the problem was not necessarily limited to his age demographic, but was a "problem with society."
"Everyone is touched by it," he said.
Speaking on behalf of the 3T's charity, Prof Kevin Malone, head of the department of Psychiatry and Mental Health research at St Vincent's Hospital, said the vigil was a "solemn occasion of respect and remembrance."
"It's a very painful memory for those bereaved, as there is such stigma associated with the loss," he said.
"The vigil is an opportunity for all those in our communities across Ireland who have been touched by suicide to come and light a candle of remembrance."
3T's, in association with UCD, has also announced plans to conduct a major national survey of over 1,000 families bereaved by suicide.
The aim of this research is to prevent a further escalation in the number of lives lost to suicide, according to the charity.