Photo: Wayne Emde Photography

Friends and family members placed candles around a tree of remembrance after a ceremony in Polson Park Tuesday evening to honour those who had passed.

Lives lost to suicide were remembered at a special ceremony in Vernon this week.

Friends and family members placed candles around a tree of remembrance after a ceremony in Polson Park Tuesday evening to honour those who had passed.

Some 80 people attended the ceremony, organized by the Vernon chapter of Canadian Mental Health Association.

The ceremony included presentations and songs.

The theme of the evening was, "Be The Light", focusing on the need to bring suicide out of the darkness, and to be aware of those who are suffering from depression and anxiety.

Statistics show the North Okanagan has one of the highest suicide rates in the province.

The Vernon CMHA has programs to help families impacted by suicide and for those struggling with dark thoughts.

- with files from Wayne Emde