This Morning supports powerful campaign highlighting male suicide rates

84 life-size sculptures have been unveiled on top of the studio and ITV's HQ.

By Ian Sandwell

26 March 2018

Note: The following article contains discussion of suicide that some readers may find upsetting.

This Morning has shown its support for a powerful new campaign aimed at highlighting male suicide rates in the UK.

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A stark new art installation by US street artist Mark Jenkins has been unveiled on top of This Morning's studio and ITV's main HQ today (March 26), with Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield starting the show from in front of the building to talk about the campaign.

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The campaign is called Project 84 and features 84 life-size sculptures (12 on top of This Morning's studio and a further 72 on ITV's HQ roof) to raise awareness of the fact that 84 men take their own lives every week in the UK, with suicide continuing to be the single biggest killer of men under 45 and three in four of all suicides being male.

©  ITV

ITV's support of the campaign by male suicide prevention charity CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) is designed to initiate a conversation around male suicide and a movement towards better suicide prevention and bereavement support.

"Here at This Morning we never shy away from stories that can be difficult to talk about – and without doubt, one of the most heartbreaking is losing a loved one to suicide," Phil noted.

Holly added: "That is why today we are unveiling 84 life-sized sculptures – each representing a real man who has taken his own life, in the hope that it will stop people in their tracks, make them pay attention and get them talking."

©  ITV

The sculptures, made possible by male grooming brand Harry's, were created by Jenkins and his collaborator Sandra Fernandez and are visual representations of 84 real British men who tragically took their own lives, with the sculptures created during a series of workshops with bereaved family members and friends of the deceased.

"Achieving our goal of male suicide prevention requires everybody to take a stand, and we're thrilled that This Morning is taking a stand with us," explained Simon Gunning, CEO of CALM. "Project 84 is all about making the scale of the situation very clear to everyone who sees the sculptures."

Along with the sculpture, a petition has also been launched by CALM and Matthew Smith, who lost his brother Dan to suicide, aimed at convincing the government to take action to improve suicide prevention and bereavement support.

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Suicide is preventable. Readers who are affected by the issues raised in this story are encouraged to contact Samaritans on 116 123 (www.samaritans.org), Mind on 0300 123 3393 (www.mind.org.uk) or CALM on 0800 58 58 58 (www.thecalmzone.net). Readers in the US are encouraged to contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 1-800-273-8255 or visit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.