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84 Sculptures Appear On Top Of A Building In London To Bring Awareness To Male Suicide Problem
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84 Sculptures Appear On Top Of A Building In London To Bring Awareness To Male Suicide Problem

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On monday morning passersby in central London witnessed a shocking sight: 84 men standing on the edge of every ITV studio building as if they were about to leap to their deaths. Regardless of how realistic they may seem, these men aren’t human. In fact, they are lifelike figures made by artist Mark Jenkins as part of Project 84, a campaign that seeks to raise awareness of male suicide in the UK.

According to charity CALM (the Campaign Against Living Miserably), suicide is the leading cause of death among men under 40 in the UK. With this in mind, the charity created Project 84 which highlights the chilling statistics — on average 84 men in the UK commit suicide each week. Every figure perched on top of the ITV studio buildings represents a real man who committed suicide. The stories of these men have been told by their family and friends and are chronicled on the Project 84 website.

CALM strives to change the conversation regarding men and mental illness. Their goal is not only to assist the families who suffered a loss of a loved one, but also to get the government to be proactive. Despite the alarming statistics, there is no cabinet minister in the UK officially responsible for suicide prevention. CALM is trying to change that with an online petition which already has more than 10,000 signatures.

You can save lives by joining the conversation. Check out what else you can do on CALM’s website.

More info: projecteightyfour.com

RELATED:

    In London, 84 men were noticed standing on the edge of every ITV studio

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    Image credits: CALM

    Turns out, they are lifelike figures made by artist Mark Jenkins as part of Project 84

    Image credits: PA

    Project 84 is a campaign that seeks to raise awareness of male suicide in the UK

    Image credits: CALM

    ADVERTISEMENT

    According to charity CALM (the Campaign Against Living Miserably), suicide is the leading cause of death among men under 40 in the UK

    Image credits: PA

    Chilling statistics informs that on average 84 men in the UK commit suicide each week

    Image credits: CALM

    Every figure perched on top of the ITV studio buildings represents a real man who committed suicide

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Image credits: CALM

    CALM strives to change the conversation regarding men and mental illness

    Image credits: REX

    ADVERTISEMENT

    There is no cabinet minister in the UK officially responsible for suicide prevention. CALM is trying to change that with an online petition

    Image credits: REX

    This project encourages people to join the conversation about alarming male suicide rates. You can help too

    Image credits: PA

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    Andželika

    Andželika

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    Andželika

    Andželika

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    Cassie
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "on average 84 men in the UK commit suicide each week" - every week just in the UK?? That is both sad and alarming.

    Daria B
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Mental illness is a huge problem, but abusive work is a huge cause of suicide as well. And the worst part is, whoever tries to speak up for their rights is shut down as "the lazy one who doesn't want to work". Here in Korea suicide rates are high too. Big hug to you, U.K.

    Cerys Dunbar
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    no offence meant to you but i hate how high suicide rates are in Korea and how they deal with mental illness with general they act like its not their and something needs to be done about it

    Load More Replies...
    stellermatt
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    the stereotype of a 'man' and what we should and shouldn't be, how we should feel and what we should do about it is so far from what is real, a strong mind can over come this, but even the strongest can succumb to dark thoughts, weak thoughts. It's ok to be weak, to cry, to have emotions, to not know what to do. It's ok to not be ok. This also applies to women, children, the elderly, all people everywhere, we're all in this together. Together.

    Gayle Bynum Cardosa
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    But depression is not the result of having "weak thoughts". It's because a person's brain chemistry is off balance. It's because a person has a loss of synaptic connectivity that the normal brain has and of course we all know there are a multitude of other things going on there. I get what you're saying but to say it's the result of weak thoughts is really an unfortunate misconception that many people perpetuate.

    Load More Replies...
    Load More Comments
    Cassie
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "on average 84 men in the UK commit suicide each week" - every week just in the UK?? That is both sad and alarming.

    Daria B
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Mental illness is a huge problem, but abusive work is a huge cause of suicide as well. And the worst part is, whoever tries to speak up for their rights is shut down as "the lazy one who doesn't want to work". Here in Korea suicide rates are high too. Big hug to you, U.K.

    Cerys Dunbar
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    no offence meant to you but i hate how high suicide rates are in Korea and how they deal with mental illness with general they act like its not their and something needs to be done about it

    Load More Replies...
    stellermatt
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    the stereotype of a 'man' and what we should and shouldn't be, how we should feel and what we should do about it is so far from what is real, a strong mind can over come this, but even the strongest can succumb to dark thoughts, weak thoughts. It's ok to be weak, to cry, to have emotions, to not know what to do. It's ok to not be ok. This also applies to women, children, the elderly, all people everywhere, we're all in this together. Together.

    Gayle Bynum Cardosa
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    But depression is not the result of having "weak thoughts". It's because a person's brain chemistry is off balance. It's because a person has a loss of synaptic connectivity that the normal brain has and of course we all know there are a multitude of other things going on there. I get what you're saying but to say it's the result of weak thoughts is really an unfortunate misconception that many people perpetuate.

    Load More Replies...
    Load More Comments
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