Help for suicidal thoughts
Practical help for suicidal thoughts
If you feel that you want to complete suicide, it's important you tell someone.
Help and support is available right now if you need it. You must not struggle with difficult feelings on your own because you are not alone.
This is what you can do:
Phone a helpline
Samaritans – for everyone - 24 hours, 7 days a week
Call 116 123
Email jo@samaritans.org
Childline – for children and young people under 19
Call 0800 1111 – the number won't show up on your phone bill
Papyrus – for people under 35
Call 0800 068 41 41 – Monday to Friday 10am to 10pm, weekends 2pm to 10pm, bank holidays 2pm to 5pm
Text 07786 209697
Email pat@papyrus-uk.org
Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) – for men
Call 0800 58 58 58 – 5pm to midnight every day
Visit the webchat page
The Silver Line – for older people
Call 0800 4 70 80 90
Also, talk to someone you trust. Let family or friends know what's going on for you. They may be able to offer support and help keep you safe.
There's no right or wrong way to talk about suicidal feelings – starting the conversation is what's important.
Who else you can talk to
If you find it difficult to talk to someone you know, you could:
call your GP – ask for an emergency appointment
call 111 out of hours – they will help you find the support and help you need
contact your mental health crisis team.
Is your life in danger?
If you have seriously harmed yourself – for example, by taking a drug overdose – call 999 for an ambulance or go straight to A&E.
Or ask someone else to call 999 or take you to A&E.
Tips for coping right now
Try not to think about the future – just focus on getting through today
stay away from drugs and alcohol
get yourself to a safe place, like a friend's house
be around other people
do something you usually enjoy, such as spending time with a pet
Worried about someone else?
If you're worried about someone, try to get them to talk to you. Ask open-ended questions like: "How do you feel about...?"
Don't worry about having the answers. Just listening to what someone has to say and taking it seriously can be more helpful.
See Samaritans' tips on how to start a difficult conversation.
Rethink also has advice on how to support someone who is having suicidal thoughts.
This article is part of Youmanity’s suicide prevention campaign
