This Morning's Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard ditch studio for heartbreaking reason

This Morning took a poignant turn on Monday (September 9) as hosts Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard abandoned the familiar ITV studio to shed light on a devastating issue.

The presenting duo led the morning show from Westfield shopping centre in West London, which was dominated by a poignant display of balloons. However, the swathes of balloons werent for celebration; they represented a sombre statistic to bring attention to increasing youth suicide rates.

The installation was orchestrated by mental health charity C. A.L. M, with 6,929 balloons adorning the airspace, symbolising the number of young people who have taken their lives in the UK over the past ten years.

Each balloon bore a number signifying the age a young person would have turned on their forthcoming birthday, reports the Mirror.

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Commenting on the significant art piece, Cat shared: "It is incredibly beautiful at the same time. It's not until you actually look at the numbers on the balloons, that you actually realise how young some of these people were."

Moved by the impactful visual, viewers took to social media to express their feelings and share personal accounts. One viewer's message read: "Gosh, it's very emotional. I lost a family member to suicide and when I was in secondary school I had suicidal thoughts due to bullying."

One viewer commented: "Wow #ThisMorning beginning made me have a tear in my eyes. Seeing them balloons and all young people with ages on the balloons you get thinking how young people were sadly in obvious pain to take their own life. Very sad world we live in. Anyone struggling I hope you can get help."

Another penned: "Those balloons really do look so gorgeous and powerful, we need better mental health services." Meanwhile, another added: "Heartbreaking seeing all those balloons."

Back in the studio later, presenters Cat and Ben resumed normal programming, which included an interview with ex-Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond.

The C. A.L. M campaign, Missed Birthdays, has garnered strong support from families affected by suicide, including Joanna Garvey, who tragically lost her son Will.

Speaking to Hits Radio, she said: "Taking part in this feels like a really positive way he can take part in something and make a difference to other people. Even in his death, he can do something positive, and he'd love that."

This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV1.