About 250 Australians Attempt Suicide Each Day – Mainly Healthy Young Females

Media Release
2 February 2024

About 250 Australians Attempt Suicide Each Day – Mainly Healthy Young Females.
Of those that die from suicide, 75% are male and 25% are female.

Clinical Associate Professor David Horgan, the founder of the Australian Suicide Prevention Foundation has released the “Prevent A Suicide: What to Say” App. The App supplies medically approved messages which in effect give concerned individuals and the community a safety net to immediately wrap around anyone close to them who mentions suicide. The person’s safety can become a shared effort involving both the community and professionals.

Dr Horgan said 40% of all people will have contact at some time in life with a person who has attempted suicide. Suicidal ideas are due to emotional pain and may be brief or go on for weeks or longer. 3 million Australians have had strong suicidal thoughts. (ABS).

“Establishing a connection using our messages on the App with a family member, friend, or workmate to let them know you are there to help them can save their life.”
Suicide and attempted suicide are the commonest causes of death and injury in our country at any age between 15 and 45. They are more than twice as common as car accidents as a cause of death and injury. (Australian Bureau of Statistics; Australian Institute of Health and Welfare).”

Dr Horgan said the fear of not knowing what to say or being frightened of saying the wrong thing is the commonest response when suicide is mentioned, posing a barrier in the fight against suicide. (Resolve Strategic Survey 2023)

Having direct free access to the “Prevent a Suicide What to Say” App twenty-four hours a day through a computer or mobile phone is a major advantage for people and can be easily shared when suicide is being discussed.

The “Prevent A Suicide: What to Say” App is available 24/7. No training is required. There are no signups which ensures total privacy.

Dr Horgan said with the shortage of medical specialists and other professionals the “Prevent a Suicide: What to Say” App fills an important role to immediately assist patients and families in need of information and assistance.

The associated website www.InToughTimesText.org is Multilingual.

Download on App Store: “Prevent A Suicide: What to Say“
https://apps.apple.com/au/app/prevent-a-suicide-what-to-say/id6446113587

Download on Google Play: “Prevent A Suicide: What to Say“
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.au.prevent.iitapp&pli=1

Clinical Associate Professor David Horgan, MB, BCH, BAO, DPM, MRCPSYCH, MPHIL, FRANZCP, FRCPEDIN, MD Founder, Australian Suicide Prevention Foundation, is available for interview. He is based in Melbourne and is available for interview on Zoom.

Media Enquiries:
Contact Ron Smith OAM, Australian Suicide Prevention Foundation
Mobile: 0417 329 201
Email: ronsmith@medialaunch.com.au
to arrange an interview with Clinical Associate Professor David Horgan, the founder of the Australian Suicide Prevention Foundation

About the Australian Suicide Prevention Foundation
The Australian Suicide Prevention Foundation provides Australia-wide suicide prevention and intervention 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We have been funded solely by donations from the public since our foundation in 1997. We base our intervention programmes on innovative approaches using internet technology.

We provide immediate answers and recommendations to the user suffering severe emotional pain, the main factor in suicide, and to their family and friends, irrespective of the time and location, when people need some basic assistance, information and links to other well known approved organisations.

www.InToughTimesText.org.au

*Important Disclaimer: Our texts are approved by those who themselves had suicidal thoughts, and by medical and other mental health professionals. This site is medical information only, and is not to be taken as diagnosis, advice or treatment, which can only be decided by your own doctor or mental health professional.

Australian Suicide
Prevention Foundation

For over 20 years we’ve provided Australia-wide suicide prevention to every and any vulnerable Australian, whether they be in metropolitan, rural or isolated areas.

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By donating to or otherwise assisting inToughTimesText.org (a programme from ASPF.org) you are helping hundreds of thousands of people who have or will have suicidal ideas.

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Help save a life by sending our medically approved texts.* #inToughTimesText

Australian Suicide Prevention Foundation

A National Health Promotion Charity