'A common loss': Friends and family of suicide victims attend vigil in St. John's

Hundreds of people packed the pews of St. Patrick's Church in St. John's to honour loved ones who died of suicide on Sunday.

They carried framed photographs of their loved ones and lit candles in their memory at the vigil, organized by Kim Kelly and Tina Davies, who both brought their own personal experiences with suicide to the event.

Davies's son Rick passed away 21 years ago, while Kelly's brother Brendon died 16 years ago, and both organizers stressed the need to remember those lost to suicide for all that that they were.

"People had accomplishments, they celebrated great things, they contributed in their workplaces, in the community, and it's just really important that we honour the things that they did in life too, and not just focus on the fact that they died by suicide," said Kelly.

"Today's event helps eliminate the stigma and taboo that surrounds suicides and lets people know that we all share a common loss."

Davies said she hoped the event would help people realize that it's okay to talk about suicide and its after effects out in the open. 

"The more we speak about it the more it will be spoken and the less people will be ashamed to maybe reach out and get that help that they need before it's too late."