MessagesHelp.org
You With Us in Suicide Prevention No Waiting
Why this approach works. The reasoning and evidence behind our approach
Adds easily to any other help available, before and between visits.
A plane full of healthy young women under 30 attempt suicide every day in Sri Lanka
A bus full of men in their prime of life actually die from suicide every week in Sri Lanka
Current Problems | Our Solutions |
|---|---|
Most people who attempt suicide or think strongly about it tell somebody before taking action | Our website shows family, friends and colleagues what to message, 24/7, without any training being needed |
Friends, family and colleagues are paralysed when suicide is even hinted at, in case they say something wrong | We have hundreds of medically approved and lived experience approved messages ready to send |
Does this new tool work? | Won a major award. Praised by Prof Pat McGorry and other experts. Research proves connections (such as our messages) reduce suicide attempts |
Discussing suicidal thoughts is awkward and giving support is hard and worrying | Messages are preferred by very many people discussing sensitive issues. We provide a detailed Support section |
How does this approach work, especially when the person at risk is often reluctant or unable to seek professional help? | Just reading messages from many of their most significant contacts silently wraps a progressive mental and emotional safety net around the person at risk |
Professionals and crisis lines have long waiting times | No waiting any hour of day or night, even in rural and remote areas |
One visit or phone call rarely can stop suicidal ideas | We advocate multiple contacts until the crisis passes or professionals take over |
Tens of thousands are at risk at any time, so no economy can afford enough professionals or volunteers | We "mobilise people power" by involving and empowering dozens of highly motivated friends, family and colleagues |
Suicide thoughts carry a stigma | No sign-ups or any tracking of messages |
Is it hard to copy the messages on the website? | One click copies any message to SMS or WhatsApp on the user's phone |
Overview of MessagesHelp.Org
"More people, more messages, more safety"
This website is based on a world-first innovation released in January 2020, (www.InToughTimesText.Org) and its award-winning App "Prevent A Suicide: what to say". The concept was devised and developed by Clinical Associate Professor of psychiatry (retired) Dr David Horgan and by the board members of the Australian Suicide Prevention Foundation.
The idea was replicated on their website soon after by SaneUK, a major charity, strongly confirming the power of this concept. Sri Lanka, with the help of Rotary and Lions, is the first country in which this new multilingual website MessagesHelp.Org is being introduced, providing Sinhala, Tamil and English versions. Websites allow faster access when suicide is mentioned, allowing faster response by message.
We join with family, friends and colleagues to actively help in suicide prevention. We provide a huge number of medically approved messages based on what mental health professionals say when there is a risk of suicide. Such words coming from family and friends on a daily/frequent basis have huge persuasive and emotional power. The person at risk is wrapped in a progressive safety net emotionally with each message. They do not have to be persuaded to do anything, just read their messages.
We suggest how to ask diplomatically about thoughts of suicide ("Do you wish you did not wake up in the morning?") and how to progress from there. Our messages cover Ask, Say, Practical and Follow-up. Any of our hundreds of messages can be moved onto the message section of a phone just by tapping the message. You can add your own words. Help Choose guides you on which messages to choose if you wish. We emphasise our Support section for users of our website.
Research on almost 700,000 people in 118 studies in the published literature has shown repeatedly that personal connections (such as messages) reduce suicidal thoughts and actions. We wish to harness the huge desire in the community to do something practical in the face of inevitably limited professional mental health input.
The missing ingredient is publicity. Please assist to save lives.
The Problem:
This service aims to reduce the huge numbers attempting suicide every day in many countries around the world. In Sri Lanka, a plane full of healthy young adults attempt suicide every day!! This is about 80,000 per year, and there are about 10 completed suicides every day.
The usual response:
Pressure is put on the person with suicidal ideas to call a crisis line, which they usually do not do. Crisis lines have long waiting times, and can offer only one contact usually. Professionals and volunteers are heavily booked, and are available only in certain areas. Ambulances may be needed. Emergency department services may be needed. All of these steps cost money to the taxpayer. Every economy is under pressure.
The future:
MessagesHelp.Org will save both lives and health costs. MessagesHelp.Org is no waiting, no cost, available 24/7 anywhere, anytime. No staff are needed, as highly motivated and protective family and friends are available 24/7. Many suicidal thoughts subside with this burst of intensive personal connections, as proven by research. If the risk becomes too high, professionals will be needed. MessagesHelp.Org can offer ongoing support before and in-between professional visits.
Who are we?
We are a cooperative group involving Rotary, the Australian Suicide Prevention Foundation (a charity in existence over 20 years), and Lions. More info is available at About Us.
Dr Horgan has 6 specialist postgraduate degrees as a psychiatrist, has over 40 years experience specialising in suicide prevention, and has lectured and published extensively on the subject (www.intensivesuicideprevention.com).
The next step:
If adequate publicity is possible to make MessagesHelp.Org known widely and successful, we are keen to continue our involvement with Rotary and other service organisations, such as Lions and philanthropic groups, to spread this no-cost multilingual life-saving innovation to other countries in the world.
"…what we know to be true: community connection is one of the most powerful protective factors for suicide prevention"
— Suicide Prevention Australia, October 2025
Confirmed by published research on 692,000 people (Darvishi et al 2024)