EXCLUSIVE: ‘Don’t K*ll Yourself’ started with clothes—and grew into a street-level mental health movement

Positive comments and appreciation from people who encounter the project encourage them to continue.

Trigger warning: Mentions of s**cide and self-h**m.

Through walls, electric posts, jeepneys, and other corners, Metro Manila has become a canvas for messages left through stickers and street art. Among them is a blunt, three-word reminder: “DON’T K*LL YOURSELF.”

For some who encounter the message, it offers comfort and motivation. Others, however, criticize its phrasing and the apparent vandalism involved in putting it up.

Behind the message is a project that goes by the same name, started by an anonymous creator who uses the alias DKY. What began as a clothing brand in late 2023 has since grown into a street-level campaign centered on mental health awareness and human connection.

In an exclusive interview with radar, DKY shared how the name came to be—and how a personal history of self-h**m shaped the message they wanted to put out into the world.

DKY said they initially struggled to come up with a name for the project. Then, their eyes landed on their wrist. Having navigated their own mental health struggles, they thought about what might have happened had they not survived those difficult moments.

“Naisip ko noon, wala ako dito at di ko danas ‘tong mga ‘to,” DKY said.

In that very moment, the name “Don’t K*ll Yourself” was born.

Though DKY did not have a fully defined mission or vision at the start, they wanted to create a campaign that was subtle but loud—a way to bring people together through a shared struggle and remind them that hope and human connection remain possible.

“It’s a silent battle. So let’s practice to be kind most of the time,” they said.

The message comes amid continuing mental health concerns in the country. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the country recorded a s**cide mortality rate of 2.7 deaths per 100,000 population in 2024. From Jan. 1 to March 23, the National Capital Region Police Office reported 111 incidents of self-h**m—33 cases higher than the same period in 2025.

DKY’s work also has a personal connection to the community. The creator is a University of Makati alumnus, and the death of a student on campus in late August affected them.

UMak issued a statement confirming the death, while subsequent social media posts and comments drew attention to the need for mental health awareness. DKY responded by reminding followers that their lines were open to anyone who needed support.

Since mental health struggles can affect anyone, DKY spreads the message wherever they can: “Nagpapaulan lang ako; bahala na kung sinong tamaan ng ligaw na mensahe.”

But the campaign’s methods come with their own risks. DKY acknowledged that getting caught is one of the challenges they face and that some people view their approach as wrong.

“Mali naman talaga kung mali lang ‘yong titingnan,” they said. “Sobrang daming maling nangyayari sa mundo. Minsan, sa pader mo na lang talaga masasabi ‘yong side mo.”

The same conflict extends beyond the group.

Last September, Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso took a strict stance against street art and public vandalism. On Sept. 28, city authorities repainted a waiting shed along España Boulevard that bore the graffiti “LOVE IS ALL WE HAVE.” The operation drew mixed reactions, with some defending the graffiti as an expression of art while others raised concerns about unauthorized markings on public property.

Despite the criticism, DKY said positive responses from people who encounter the project encourage them to continue. “Nakakatuwang makita ‘yong mga magagandang resulta ng simpleng mensahe,” they said.

As for what comes next, DKY has plans in mind but didn’t wish to disclose them yet.

While they have no official collaborations with mental health institutions or advocates, DKY said they remain open to any partnership.

Some of their recent stencil art, featured on their social media accounts, has begun incorporating 1553, the National Center for Mental Health’s crisis hotline.

DKY also sells sticker packs for ₱100 for six pieces, allowing supporters to carry the message with them.

What began as a clothing brand in late 2023 has since expanded across social media and onto the streets. Through stickers and stencil art, DKY continues to put the message in places where people might encounter it unexpectedly.

As the public marks World Mental Health Day on Oct. 10, DKY’s project is a reminder that showing up for someone does not always have to be a grand gesture. Sometimes, even three words in an ordinary place can make someone feel seen.