It's a staggering number. An estimated one in four families is touched by mental illness and that's precisely why a big group of people took to the streets of Sioux Falls Sunday night.

They were a part of a candle walk to raise awareness of those suffering with mental illness. The event kicks off the National Mental Illness Awareness Week.

The goal is to break through the darkness and misunderstandings of mental illness and shed light on what it really is.

Sheila Toering says breaking the stigma surrounding those illnesses is important and it's why she's participating in this walk.

She works with those suffering with mental illnesses everyday at a community counseling service in Madison. She knows what they and their loved ones deal with and wants to support this effort.

Sheila Toering says, "Just getting the word out that mental illness is the same as physical illness and insurance companies and everyone else out there starts seeing it that way."

That's why so many people participated; to advocate for greater acceptance of illnesses they say many people aren't willing to talk about.

Sheila Toering says, "I think there's a lot of people that have varying views on people with mental illness and I think just a lot of it is that they have never met anybody or really gotten to know them."

With this walk through downtown they can bring their message to the streets and to the people of Sioux Falls and the surrounding area. They hope by lighting their candles they'll be able to inspire others and assure those who suffer from mental illness that they don't have to walk alone.

Sheila Toering says, "They need to receive the same compassion and same understanding that we have for everybody in our society."

Sunday night's walk was just the first of a few events planned for the week. There will also be an ecumenical prayer service for mental illness understanding Tuesday October 7th at Christ The King church in Sioux Falls.

There are other candle walks planned throughout the state. If you'd like to know more about them, click here for local contact information.