We’re delighted to welcome David Horgan who was formally inducted as a member on 10 December 2025 with the classification of Medical and Health Services-Psychiatry.
He is a retired Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry who did his schooling and medical education in Dublin, being one of five boys. He did his psychiatry training in Edinburgh, and has 6 specialist qualifications. He moved to the University of Melbourne and to the Royal Melbourne Hospital. He was involved mainly in private practice as a last resort psychiatrist, treating severe depression and high suicide risk on an outpatient basis, when treatment from other psychiatrists had failed. He is best known for his writings and lectures to thousands of GPs and colleagues about using 2 antidepressants simultaneously, and other advanced techniques in depression treatment and suicide prevention.
Most people, including doctors, do not know that the commonest cause of death and injury under age 50 is suicide. A plane full of healthy young women attempt suicide every day in Australia. A bus full of men in the prime of life die every week from suicide. David has spent his life fighting this problem. He founded the charity Australian Suicide Prevention Foundation. “We hate being number one.”
He has written multiple websites ranging from doctorshealth.com.au to the award-winning App "Prevent A Suicide: what to say" No economy can afford therapists or volunteers for the millions affected. David has developed a cost-free, no waiting, no staff innovation, using people power and requiring only publicity.
With the help of Rotary, to whom he is very grateful for publicity, and in conjunction with his charity, a new multilingual version of MessagesHelp.org is planned for international distribution, starting with Sri Lanka in January 2026. This will provide 100’s of medically approved messages for family and friends to download onto their own phone messages section with one click, ready to send to the person at risk. Potent personal connections are proven by research to reduce suicide.
David and his wife Roswitha love cruising as a holiday, and enjoy fine food. They have two adult children, Nathan and Isabelle. David enjoys his suicide prevention work, science fiction reading, and escapist viewing.
David is a member of the Kew - North Balwyn group, the Australian Rotary Health Committee, and the Health and Ageing Committee.
Welcome to Rotary Melbourne, David! We’re delighted to have you with us.
