Modern art with a serious message: Graffiti artists take over London billboards to raise awareness at CALM charity event

This Sunday, a tream of celebrated graffiti artists - in association with IPCs Charity of the Year, CALM (the campaign against living miserably) - will take over three billboards at Old Street in London to create powerful artwork to raise awareness of suicide

By Natalie Wain

last updated 3 June 2022

At Housetohome we get to share beautiful homes and decorating ideas with our users, so when we heard that our company's Charity of the Year - CALM (the Campaign Against Living Miserably) were hosting a art-themed event to highlight young male suicide in the UK, we had to give it a shout out.

The event, on Sunday March 24, will feature a team of well-known grafitti artists who will be creating powerful images accross three billboards at Old Street in London to highlight the three young male suicides that occur on average every day in the UK.

billboard londons old street art to promote awareness of young male suicide this sunday

The three artists from Soulful Creative, Koze, 45rpm and Richt, we be creating their artwork live on site at Old Street from 8am onwards where it will be displayed for 36 hours before being auctioned off in aid of the charity.

Volunteers from CALM will be onsite during the event and refreshments and entertainment will also be provided.According to statistics from CALM, suicide is the single biggest killer of young men under 35 in the UK.

In 2011, suicide accounted for the deaths of more young men in England and Wales than road death, murder and HIV/AIDs combined. In the same year, there were 1,242 suicides of men aged 15-35 in the UK compared to 377 female suicides in the same age group.

CALM offer support to men who are feeling down or in crisis with a free confidential helpline and campaign tirelessly to raise awareness of suicide while working to prevent it.

If you'd like to go and show your support you'll find the billboard on the south side of Old Street at the junction with Pitfield Streen and Great Eastern Street. We think you'll agree, it's a great cause and a thought-provoking way or promoting awareness.