The GLASS EMPTY Story

Finding a way to talk about suicide distress can be hard. That's where the GLASS EMPTY Signal can help.

In 2024, after looking at ways to assist bar staff on how they can help those suffering with suicide distress and poor mental health, the idea was born: if people find it hard to open up about how they feel, perhaps a signal in a pub, club, cafe or brewery can alert others who care, that their help is needed.

GLASS EMPTY is a metaphor for how someone is feeling. Their glass is no longer half full or half empty, it's completely drained.

While many patrons in pubs are aware that a glass turned upside down is a signal you want to fight someone, when a coaster is placed on its upturned base, it becomes a sign that you're fighting with your own inner demons and you're in need of a conversation with someone to help you through.

Meeting people where they're at with BRAVE conversations. Because it takes bravery to let someone know you need help and it takes bravery to help someone in distress.

My Story

"I did it because you needed it”, was my father’s response.

“You needed to talk,” he added. “That was what was helping you”.

Hi, my name is Jonathan Hart. I'm a South Australian-based entrepreneur and community connector who experienced suicide distress in 2014/15.

And were it not for my father's care and concern, in some of the toughest times of my life, I would never have made it through the 9 months of on-again, off-again thoughts of not wanting to be alive.

I recently asked my Dad, during a period of reflection, why, through that nine-month period, he had chosen to spend every second or third day walking with me on the beach, just listening, as I expressed my thoughts, feelings and emotions.

You see, I had been put on an anti-depressant medication at the time. One which exacerbated the anxiety I was already feeling due to the financial stress of running my own family business and being responsible for putting food on the table for a young family of six.

I was stressed out, I was anxious and depressed and I was going through a rocky time in my relationship. 

The feeling of wanting to end my life meant I could barely make it out of bed due to the feelings of depression, regarding my financial circumstances, and anxiety regarding my future outcomes related to work.

There was very little that could be done to wake me out of these feelings.

After travelling Australia in 2017 with my wife at the time and our four kids, and filming the inside of some classic and iconic pubs on the journey, I created the website www.greataussiepubs.com.au

When Covid came in 2020 and people in pubs were forced to drink sitting down, unable to sing or dance due to mask and social distancing mandates, I realised I could, and needed to, do more for mental health support in pubs. 

Having suffered with suicide distress and mental health problems in the past, I used my experiences, compassion and empathy to create suicide prevention education, a community of helpers and the GLASS EMPTY Suicide Prevention Signal.

By placing a coaster on an upturned glass or cup at participating pubs, clubs, bars, cafes and breweries, it signals that you are feeling suicidal.

Or, the coaster can be handed to a bar tender or someone in the pub, who can start the process of getting them to safety.

It's a way in to the conversation when the words are too difficult to say and you want to let someone know you need help to feel safe again.

From there a Pub Whisperer can enter that conversation with you and help you to feel safe again. But only if they are able to allocate the time to do so. If not they can call in a family member, friend, colleague or loved one or a Community Whisperer, that’s a compassionate and empathetic listener and helper from their local Whisperer Team, who can listen.

Due to my own suicide distress and journey into the depths of darkness I realised I could help others experiencing similar feelings. Particularly those who spend time in pubs.

THE   FOUNDER

Jonathan Hart

My Why: Save lives.
Outcome: Reducing suicide in Australia.
How: GLASS EMPTY, a suicide prevention initiative in pubs.
 
What is GLASS EMPTY?
GLASS EMPTY is a signal that prevents suicide. One conversation at a time.

By turning your glass upside down and placing a coaster on it's upturned base, you are alerting people to the fact that you are experiencing suicide distress.

Sometimes expressing the words about how we are feeling, when struggling with thoughts and feelings of wanting to end one's life, is difficult to do.
This is where GLASS EMPTY can help.

Either by showing the signal, handing a GLASS EMPTY coaster to someone whom you'd like to discuss your feelings with, or being given a coaster by someone concerned about you, it can start a lifesaving conversation.

With the support of local Whisperer Teams we can see genuine grassroots community-supported suicide prevention solutions make a difference and reduce the amount of lives lost to suicide.

What I’ve learned – and what I want others to know: 

1. Challenge the Aussie vernacular. When you hear someone say, "She'll be right mate", gently inquire "But are ya alright, mate?" 
   Lean in. Listen. If their response worries you, be brave enough to ask again, "are you sure?"  or "do you need to talk about it?" 
   Changing how we speak could save lives. 
   
   
2. Community supporting community is the way forward.  When friends, family or colleagues aren't available, we need to know that community can step in. That’s where GLASS EMPTY and The Whisperer Team can help. I believe that when communities come together, we’ll see fewer suicides – here and around the world. As the saying goes: when I is replaced with we, "illness" becomes "wellness".
3.  If you're struggling, remember you've survived every day so far. Keep going. My 98-year-old grandmother always said: "If you're going through hell, keep going". 
   Reach out to someone you trust – a friend, a colleague, a family member, a Pub Whisperer, a counsellor, your doctor or a helpline. People care and you are not alone.  
   
   

Suicide intervention is a skillset everyone ought to know. Being trustworthy, respectful, kind, and a good listener can make all the difference. You don’t need to be qualified to have a chat. Sometimes just showing up and starting the conversation is enough.