Suicidal Thoughts

Feeling suicidal can mean several things including having thoughts about ending your life or thinking that the world would be better off without you, thinking about methods of suicide or making clear plans to take your own life.

If you are feeling suicidal now please visit A&E or call 999.

You might be scared or confused by these feelings or find the feelings overwhelming.

Helping yourself now

Get safe right now

Get through the next five minutes. Taking things minute by minute can help make things more manageable. Remove anything you could use to harm yourself. Tell someone about how you’re feeling – it could be a friend, family member or even a pet to help you feel less alone and more in control.

Distraction

Try coping techniques such as holding an ice cube in your hand until it melts and focus on how cold it feels or tear something up into hundreds of pieces or even take a very cold shower or bath.

Steady your nervous system by taking long deep breaths – if your exhale is longer than your inhale that can help you feel calmer more quickly

Challenge your thoughts

Make a deal with yourself that you won’t act today. Be kind to yourself – talk to yourself as if you were talking to a good friend.  Tell yourself you can get through this.

If, having read this and tried these techniques, you need further support then contact your GP (between 8am to 6pm) or refer yourself to the Central Access Point (CAP) outside of these hours, on their 24-hour phone line on 0808 800 3302. Please note that the CAP line is not an emergency service. Where there is an immediate, serious, and life-threatening emergency, call 999 or attend A&E.