I want you to live.
Whatever it is, reach out.
If you are thinking about harming yourself or attempting suicide, tell someone who can help right away:
Call your doctor’s office.
Call 911 for emergency services.
Go to the nearest hospital emergency room.
Don’t want to talk to me? Want to talk right now?
Reach out to anyone. Your depression tells you that no one cares, that you are a burden, that you are just bothering others. These are distortions our depressed mind feed us. It is not the truth. People do care about you. People will drop everything to save your life. If you truly feel alone at least call the National Suicide Healthline.
What to expect when you call the National Suicide Helpline
Call
You’ll hear a message telling you that you’ve reached the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
Wait
You will listen to a little hold music while we connect you.
Connect
A skilled, trained crisis worker who works at the Lifeline network crisis center closest to you will answer the phone.
Resources
This person will listen to you, understand how your problem is affecting you, provide support, and share any resources that may be helpful.
Remember, your call is confidential and free.
Should I Call The Lifeline?
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Deals with any problem
No matter what problems you’re dealing with, whether or not you’re thinking about suicide, if you need someone to lean on for emotional support, call the Lifeline.
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Talk about it
People call to talk about lots of things: substance abuse, economic worries, relationships, sexual identity, getting over abuse, depression, mental and physical illness, and loneliness, to name a few.
Many countries around the world provide similar help.
Here is a Wikipedia page that lists countries from around the world and their mental health hotlines. You can also google suicide helpline and your country.
What Do You Do When a Suicide Crisis Line Fails You?
This happens more than anyone cares to admit. First and foremost if you are not currently safe call 911 or go to the nearest hospital. You are worth the time and money. If you do not want to do that you can check to see if you have a local urgent psychiatric care center. Remember you do not want your life to end, you want the suffering to end. If you hate your life, change the way you are living, step-by-step, moment-by-moment.
Make a personal safety plan.
You can do this at any time, but I recommend you create a personal safety plan when you feel good and stable. It is good to have pre-set ideas and coping mechanisms in place for when you are having a bad day (hour/week/month). On it you will include activities and things and coping skills to help relieve stress, focus on the positive, and step back from the edge. It is important that you write it down. You think you will remember, but when your brain is in a tangle it is so much easier to read it off a sheet of paper. If you want you can even share this with a roommate or spouse, so that they can help you too.
Step 1: What are some things that warn you that a crisis is developing?
Thoughts, emotions, or behaviors. Examples: racing thoughts, feeling hopeless, feeling sad or down, feeling depressed, thoughts of cutting, stressful events
Step 2. What can you do to make sure that your environment is safe?
Examples: removing any weapons, pills or other objects which could pose a health or safety risk, holding a soft or harmless object to keep hands busy.
Step 3. What are some internal coping strategies that you can use?
Examples: meditate, exercise, listen to music, watch a movie/tv show/youtube, writing, etc.
Step 4. Who are some people that you know or organizations you can call to either talk about this with you, or distract you?
Suicide Prevention Lifeline, Emergency services, 911, therapist, school counselor, teacher, trusted friends or family members
Step 5: Where are some safe places that you can go to either to get help or distract you?
Distracting safe places: a local coffee shop, library, local mall, taking a walk (in a safe place at a safe time)
