We Are The Australian Suicide Prevention Foundation
The Australian Suicide Prevention Foundation is a registered charity focussed on providing help for those considering suicide, and for their friends and relatives affected by such an event or risk.
Our mission is to create lasting change in suicide prevention across Australia by supporting and guiding family members and friends to help loved ones experiencing suicidal thoughts.
About The App
We are providing a new approach to show family and friends how to lessen the risk of attempted suicide and death from suicide in someone close to them. This is a huge problem all around the world. In Tough Times Text is a family / community-driven suicide prevention initiative, supplementing conventional care if that is available.
Harnessing the Power of Connection to Save Lives
The direct involvement of close contacts brings emotionally powerful forces to bear in a life and death situation, at no cost to the patient, family or health service. We request your help in providing publicity for what we do, and in sending us more high-impact texts and stories of survival to help others.
The Hard Truth
Suicide is the most common cause of death and injury in Australians age 15 to 45, male and female (Australian Bureau of Statistics). This is almost 3x more frequent than death and injury by cars.
Plus suicide deaths per year
(Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics)
Suicide attempts per year
(Source: Research & Clinical Estimates)
People consider suicide in a year in Australia
(Source: Research & Clinical Estimates)
How We Hope This App Is Used
We hope this app becomes a quiet but powerful presence during difficult moments a way for friends and family to stay connected when words are hard to find. Tough Times Text is designed to help people send supportive, thoughtful messages to someone they care about who may be struggling.
It is not a replacement for professional care, but a way to create a protective circle of care and connection while professional help is being sought or supported. When used together by family and friends, these messages can help reduce isolation, reinforce hope, and remind someone in crisis that they are not facing things alone. Sometimes, a simple message, sent at the right time, can make a real difference.
Kristin Michaels
Chair
Kristin has a number of years of involvement and leadership within the healthcare industry in both public and private sectors. She has worked as a CEO/Director and operates at a Director level on the boards of organisations across the spectrum of healthcare experience in acute, aged care, community health and primary care.
Clinical Associate Professor David Horgan
Founder & Medical Director
Clinical Associate Professor David Horgan did his medical education in Ireland, specializing in psychiatry. He has been registered as a specialist in psychiatry in Australia since 2008 and continues to work in Australia. He is mainly involved now in private practices.
John Hardy
Director
John enjoyed a career in Telecommunications and IT, executive search and coaching and mentoring culminating to executive search. John's career has covered the entire Asia-Pacific region, spanning various departments, including executive search. He has since spent many years in France.
Thomas Green
Director
Thomas has a background as a digital marketing strategist and growth consultant, entrepreneur & director of Business Development for companies in Australia and the Asia Pacific region. Thomas has over 20 years experience focusing on innovation.
Dr Caterina Sloan
Director
Cathy is a General Practitioner in Brighton, Melbourne. She trained at the University of Melbourne and holds a Masters Degree in Herbal Medicine and maintains a range of skills in anaesthetics, general practice, and obstetrics. She has worked as a Director on the Mornington Peninsula.
Mary Rose Morgan
Director
Mary Rose joined ASPE as a director in 2008 after a career in management with a major Australian university, Registrar of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists. She was the founding CEO of a major Australian Arts organization.
Anne Warden
Director
Anne's specialty is in mental health promotion begun when she was a Psychology Officer in the Australian Army over 20 years ago. The area of mental health has been of strong interest, especially in recovery. She holds a Graduate Certificate in Public Health and Epidemiology.
Adam Lang
Director
Adam is an information technologist, with over 20 years' experience in technology, business intelligence and analytics. Adam brings an extensive international background in the delivery of key business technology projects. He has worked globally to transform industries.