Hold Onto Life
“Prevent A Suicide: What to Say”
Media Release
8 September 2023
The Australian Suicide Prevention Foundation has launched a Suicide Prevention campaign to coincide with World Suicide Prevention Day on Sunday10th September.
Clinical Associate Professor David Horgan, the founder of the Australian Suicide Prevention Foundation, said the "Prevent A Suicide: What to Say" programme is aimed at giving the community a safety net to immediately wrap around anyone close to them who mentions suicide, so that the person’s safety can become a shared effort involving both the community and professionals.
This App and its associated website www.InToughTimesText.org provide medically approved texts for family and friends to send to a person with suicidal ideas; multiple supportive texts from the most important people in their lives make it difficult to move from suicidal thoughts to suicidal actions
The Foundation has released an innovative free App "Prevent A Suicide: What to Say", a bank of medically approved text messages which family and friends can download with one click and send to a suicidal person as texts or WhatsApp appropriate messages.
Professor Horgan said "Prevent A Suicide - What to Say" is more than just an App. It is a way to show someone that you care, that you understand, and that you are there for them."
“It is a way to prevent a suicide by sending a message, saving a life!
“Suicide and attempted suicide are the commonest causes of death and injury between the ages of 15 and 49, male or female, in Australia." (ABS)
"Over 3 million Australians have had serious thoughts of suicide and over one million have attempted suicide in their lifetime." (ABS)
"Most people are afraid of saying the wrong thing or don’t know what to say to a person mentioning suicide." (Resolve Strategic 2022)
“Prevent a Suicide :What to Say overcomes the problem of most people being afraid to say the wrong thing when suicide is mentioned.
“This text SafetyNet mobilising family and friends is an Australian world first initiative,” Professor Horgan said.
Migrant communities: Google translate makes the website multilingual.
The In Tough Times Text website and the "Prevent A Suicide: What to Say" App are available 24/7. No training is required. There are no signups which ensures privacy.
Download Your Free App Now from the Links Below
Link to App store for FREE "Prevent A Suicide: What to Say”
https://apps.apple.com/au/app/prevent-a-suicide-what-to-say/id6446113587
Link to Google Play for "Prevent A Suicide: What to Say"
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.au.prevent.iitapp&pli=1
Media Enquiries:
Clinical Associate Professor David Horgan, is available for comment.
Please Contact Ron Smith 0AM Media Communications – Mobile: 0417 329 201