The fourth and final River Sounds Festival was a bittersweet but beautiful finale, according to organisers.

The River Sounds Festival – an 11-hour event held in rural Katikati – has been focused on mental health and wellbeing throughout its four-year stint but the final event was held on February 15.

“It was very special as the reason we started the festival was to create safe spaces for people to connect, be vulnerable and share their experiences in mental health and wellbeing. We managed to achieve just that,” said Everyone Hurts Foundation co-founder Jessica Dine.

“It feels very bittersweet as we feel like the mental health message came through really strongly this time around ... there was a lot of healing, and it was profound for us.”

The festival had about 250 attendees dancing and enjoying performers Georgia Lines, Bec Sandridge, King Kapisi, Dan Sharp, Marmalade and Mash. Workshops included yoga, breath-work, meditation and interactive talks with local mental health experts. Charity partner for this year was Te Puna Hauora.

Festival-goers having fun. Photo / Whitney Lee

This time a panel was held for people to share their personal stories of mental health or loss. A live auction was held.

Dine said it was a great crowd and a lovely vibe. The takeaway was there are many people hurting out there, people who have no one to talk to, she said.

The festival began after Sophie and Sam Temperton lost their brother Ben to suicide. The festival was held at the family property on Woodland Rd beside a river to honour Ben.

But sponsorship for the festival has been drying up over the years. This year its closure was announced but a surge in sponsorship saw it take place.

The Everyone Hurts Foundation will turn their efforts to other events such as work Walk it Off – partnering with Te Puna Hauora and with other mental health organisations. This will be a nationwide, peerto-peer counselling and therapy service to be integrated into the public mental health system, to help people to find the support they need, she said. Dine has had her own struggles with mental health and knows the flaws in both the public and public sectors.

Marmalade performs at the River Sounds Festival. Photo / Whitney Lee

Over the four festivals, about $100,000 has been raised for mental health organisations.

Where to get help:

– Grief Support Services 07 578 4480

– Lifeline: 0800 543 354 (available 24/7)

– Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO (available 24/7)

– Youth services: (06) 3555 906

– Youthline: 0800 376 633

– What’s Up: 0800 942 8787 (11am to11pm)

– Depression helpline: 0800 111 757 (available 24/7)

– Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155

– Helpline: 1737

If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.