From Psychiatric Hospital to App Store: The Real Story Behind Pleaze

When people ask me why Pleaze exists, I usually give them the elevator pitch: “We’re a mental health app that helps people reach out for support when they need it most.”

But that doesn’t tell the real story.

The real story is messier, more personal, and more urgent than any pitch deck could capture. It’s a story that started in some of the darkest moments of my life and led to an app that’s now helping people around the world.

And I just shared that full story publicly for the first time.

Why I Finally Told the Whole Truth

This week, I published a piece called “Why I’m Building the Mental Health App That Big Tech Refuses To Make” where I opened up about the night Pleaze was really born – January 13th, 2021, when I was lying in bed ready to take my life.

For three years, I’ve told sanitized versions of our origin story. “I saw a gap in the market.” “I wanted to help people in crisis.” All true, but not the whole truth.

The whole truth is that I built Pleaze because I needed it to exist, and I couldn’t find anything like it anywhere.

What Makes Pleaze Different

In that piece, I talk about why Big Tech mental health apps fundamentally miss the mark. But here on our website, I want to focus on what we actually built instead:

Real Human Connection

While other apps focus on AI chatbots and automated responses, Pleaze connects you directly with your chosen support network. When you press our help button, real people who care about you get notified immediately.

Crisis-First Design

Every feature in Pleaze was designed with crisis moments in mind. Not daily mood tracking or meditation streaks – the moments when you need help most but can’t find the words to ask for it.

Built by People Who Understand

Our team has lived experience with mental health challenges and addiction. We’re not building from research papers – we’re building from our own survival.

Completely Free

There are no premium tiers, no subscription fees, no features locked behind paywalls. If you need help, you shouldn’t have to pay for it.

The Response Has Been Overwhelming

Since sharing our full story, the response has reminded me why we built this in the first place. Messages from parents who feel more connected to their struggling teenagers. Notes from college students who finally have a way to reach out when shame makes phone calls impossible. Stories from people whose friends used Pleaze during a crisis and got help in time.

But the message that stuck with me most came from someone who said: “I wish I had this app when my brother was alive.”

That’s why we do this work.

For Mental Health Professionals

If you’re a therapist, counselor, or other mental health professional reading this, Pleaze isn’t designed to replace the incredible work you do. It’s designed to bridge the gap between sessions, to catch people when they’re falling through the cracks, and to help your clients build stronger support networks.

Many of our users include their therapists in their Pleaze support groups, creating a safety net that extends beyond office hours.

For Families and Friends

One thing I didn’t expect when we launched Pleaze was how much it would help the people around those struggling with mental health.

Supporting someone with mental health challenges can feel impossible. You want to help, but you don’t know how. You want to check in, but you don’t want to overwhelm them. You want to be there, but you don’t always know when “there” is.

Pleaze gives loved ones a clear way to help and a direct line of communication during the moments that matter most.

What’s Next for Pleaze

We’re not trying to become the next billion-dollar health tech unicorn. We’re trying to save lives, one person at a time, one crisis at a time.

Our roadmap includes features for specific communities – resources for addiction recovery, tools for sexual trauma survivors, support for grief and heartbreak. Because mental health isn’t one-size-fits-all, and neither should be the technology that supports it.

Download Pleaze Today

If you’re struggling with mental health, if someone you love is struggling, or if you just want to be part of a support network for someone who matters to you, download Pleaze for free today.

Set up your support group. Familiarize yourself with the features. And know that you have a tool that was built by people who understand what you’re going through, designed for the moments when everything else falls short.

Read the Full Story

If you want to understand the deeper “why” behind Pleaze – the psychiatric hospital stays, the failed treatments, the moment everything clicked – read the full story here. It’s raw, it’s honest, and it explains why we built mental health technology differently.

Because sometimes the most important innovations come from the darkest places, and the best solutions are built by people who need them most.

Pleaze is available for free download on iOS and Android. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please contact emergency services or a crisis helpline in your area.

For press inquiries or partnership opportunities, contact us at info@pleazeapp.com.