At 2 A.M., One Message Changed Everything
- IMFoC
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
It was late at night, only a few months after October 7th, when a SAHAR volunteer received a message from a teenage girl.
“I can’t do this anymore.”
At first, the conversation seemed like many others that arrive through SAHAR’s online platform: a young person overwhelmed by anxiety, loneliness, and emotional exhaustion. But as the exchange continued, the situation became far more serious.
The girl explained that she felt completely alone. She believed nobody understood her pain. She could no longer see a future beyond the darkness she was experiencing.
Then came the message every volunteer fears most.
She had pills with her.
And she intended to take them that night.
For the volunteer on the other side of the screen, this was no longer just a conversation. It was a race against time.
Being There When Someone Feels Completely Alone
SAHAR, an anonymous online emotional support and suicide prevention organization in Israel, has become a lifeline for thousands of people struggling with emotional distress, trauma, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts.
Immediately after the events of October 7th, SAHAR moved to operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, responding to the growing mental health crisis affecting Israelis of all ages.
Many of the messages arrive during the quietest hours of the night, when loneliness feels heavier, fear becomes louder, and reaching out may feel like the last remaining option.
This particular volunteer had been trained for situations like this. But no amount of training removes the emotional weight of hearing another human being say they no longer want to live.
The volunteer remained calm and fully present.
There was no judgment. No panic. No attempt to force solutions or minimize the pain. Instead, the volunteer focused on listening carefully, responding gently, and creating a space where the girl could continue talking.
Slowly, the conversation began to shift.
What started with despair slowly gave way to hesitation.
What felt final became uncertain.
And silence gave way to expression.
At the same time, in accordance with SAHAR’s emergency protocols for life-threatening situations, supervisors became involved, and emergency services were alerted so the girl could receive immediate help.
The volunteer who shared this story never learned what happened afterward. That is often the reality at SAHAR. The conversations are anonymous, and once the crisis passes, volunteers may never know how the story ends.
But they carry one quiet hope: that in that moment, simply being there helped one young person stay alive.
Stories like this are not rare.
Every year, SAHAR handles approximately 1,000 life-threatening cases that require intervention to prevent immediate harm — an average of two to three emergency situations every single day.
Behind each message is a real person: a teenager overwhelmed by anxiety, a parent struggling with trauma, a soldier carrying emotional scars, or someone who feels they have nowhere else to turn.
Israel's ongoing emotional and psychological crisis continues to affect countless individuals and families, especially in the aftermath of war, terror, displacement, and prolonged uncertainty.
And yet, many people still suffer silently.
That is why organizations like SAHAR matter so deeply. Their work reminds people that even in moments of complete darkness, someone is willing to listen.
Sometimes, saving a life does not happen dramatically.
Sometimes, it begins quietly, through presence, compassion, and a simple message answered in the middle of the night.
As it is written:
“Whoever saves a single life, it is as if they have saved an entire world.”
Supporting Mental Health and Resilience in Israel
Through the Israel Rehabilitation & Resilience Fund (IRRF), the Israel Magen Fund of Canada (IMFoC) supports organizations working on the front lines of Israel’s growing mental health crisis, including SAHAR and other partner institutions focused on trauma recovery, emotional resilience, and psychological support.
The IRRF helps provide mental health services, crisis intervention, resilience programs, and emotional support initiatives for individuals and communities facing the long-term effects of trauma and crisis.
For many Israelis, especially during the darkest moments, these services are not optional. They are life-saving.
How Canadians Can Help
Canadians can play a meaningful role in supporting mental health and suicide prevention efforts in Israel. By supporting the Israel Rehabilitation & Resilience Fund (IRRF), donors help ensure that organizations like SAHAR can continue operating 24/7, training volunteers, responding to emergencies, and being there for people when they need someone most.
Every conversation answered.
Every volunteer is trained.
Every life supported.
It all begins with someone choosing to care.
The Israel Magen Fund of Canada (IMFoC) is a registered Canadian charity dedicated to supporting initiatives that promote health, resilience, and emergency response efforts in Israel.
