A Message from a lonely man.

Desperate Message Saved A Lonely Man's Life

About year ago, Patrick Cakirli posted a message online that inspired thousands of people who read it. It was - "Want of a less brutal turn of phrase, a cry for help."

Patrick Cakirli

In an anonymous forum called "Jodel," that allows users to write anything under the sun. Patrick wrote: "I am desperate to meet new friends. I’m lonely and going through the hardest period of my life. I’ll sit on the stairs in front of the town hall from 2 pm to 8 pm. I have black pants and a North Face bag on."

Jodel messages are visible publicly so anyone within a 10km radius can see it. Patrick shared this on December 7, and didn't expect to see anyone turn up to his meeting spot.

The 13 people who read his message and decided to show up.

To his surprise, 13 people went to see him and offer their support. He was, understandably, "overwhelmed" by the response. And he's since inspired thousands of others to fight loneliness.

Patrick again wrote: "I had no idea at the time, that this terse message would change my life as well as 10,000 others."

"I have lived more than half of my childhood and youth life in orphanages. A troubled upbringing with defeat, insecurity and violent assaults that have made me the person I am today; a person with very poor self-esteem and a deep inner sense of identitylessness."

10-day relay walk from Copenhagen to Aarhus.

"In September of 2016, my girlfriend of 6 years cheated on me and left me shortly after. My whole world came crumbling down, and I was on the edge of suicide. I got admitted to the local psychiatric hospital, but was then released after an intense week of care and treatment."

Patrick explained that he had few friends. He didn't have a family and had been in crisis. It was that one message that brought him back – one message and the kindness of strangers.

"So there I was – with no family, friends or girlfriend," Patrick added. Alone and in desperation, I decided to write and send out the message."

He was invited to different tv shows and forums.

"A lot of people read my cry for help and came to my aid – no less than 13 strangers decided to show up and give their support. I was so overwhelmed with joy, that I had to fight back the tears. Many of them confided in me throughout the evening and told me that they too had felt the heart-wrenching pain of loneliness, but were too afraid of reaching out because of the stigma."

Patrick's meeting went viral in Denmark. Radio stations, TV shows, and newspapers all covered his story.

He now leads a free, nationwide peer-to-peer network where people in need can find someone to talk to. Patrick also went on a 10-day relay walk from Copenhagen to Aarhus, meeting hundreds of others along the way.

Patrick founded Smilet Denmark, a peer-to-peer group with an effort to assist those struggling in isolation.

"The concept was that under no circumstances was I allowed to walk unless accompanied by another person. Luckily for me, more than 70 people chose to support my cause by either walking with me or offering me accommodation and food. The project was very successful as it got the attention of the media."

Patrick added that he's incredibly proud of what he's achieved. He said that loneliness is a huge taboo in modern society – and it is. He wants to inspire others to make a positive impact.

Empathy outweighs action. You can only understand and help a person battling loneliness and depression if you actually experienced and got through it.

“Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.”

- Helen Keller