How do you guys deal with a girl trying to get your attention by sending you emotionally manipulative messages?

When I'm ignoring a plate or potential plate, and she keeps sending me messages about her emotional state or feelings, or her friend's or family's emotional state or feelings on really irrelevant stuff, when it's clearly a ploy just to get my attention.

Until recently, not wanting to be a complete asshole, I would reply with short, cliched statements like "that sucks"or ït'll get better, don't worry about it". Now, I just ignore it. Is there a better way to deal with this?