Trigger warning – some of the issues discussed on this page might be triggering.
“Life can be painful, and sometimes this can cause us to have suicidal thoughts. It’s nothing to be ashamed of.”
On this page we cover:
- Signs someone is feeling overwhelmed
- Where to get help and support
- Could you be a life saver?
- Resources
1 in 5 people have thought about suicide at some time in their life, according to the Samaritans – Myths about Suicide
What are the signs that someone is having suicidal thoughts or feelings?
They may say these sort of things:
- “Sometimes I feel like I just want to die”.
- “I’m worthless”.
- “There’s no reason for me to live”.
- “You’re better off without me”.
- “If I died, would you miss me?”
- “I’ll try anything, I’m not afraid to die”.
They may do these sorts of things:
- Giving away things most valuable to them.
- Self-harming.
- Drinking more or taking drugs.
- Making funeral arrangements/saying goodbyes.
- Suddenly ‘recovered’ after a period of depression.
Males are less likely to talk about their feelings
This Childline campaign video ‘Things guys don’t talk about’ helps to spread the word to young men about seeking support if they are struggling.
What should I do, and where can I get support?
Trying to ‘pull yourself together’ or ‘man up’ doesn’t always work.
The best thing to do if you’re struggling is to talk to someone.
You are worth it!
If you can’t talk to your mates or your family, you can get anonymous and confidential support from the following places:
- NHS Mental Health Crisis Support Line, call 111 Option 2 (24/7, for anyone of any age)
- CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) for boys and men who are struggling and need to talk. Call 0800 58 58 58 (Open every day from 5pm – Midnight) They have Webchat available on their website.
- Kooth online emotional wellbeing service for young people aged 11 to 25.
- Young Minds Crisis Textline – Text 85258 (24/7)
- The Samaritans – Call 116 123 Or email: jo@samaritans.org (24/7)
- Childline – Call anytime on 0800 1111
- Hopeline (PAPYRUS) – Call 0800 068 41 41 Or text 07786 209697. (Open Mon-Fri 10am to 10pm, Weekends 2pm to 10pm.)
If you can, try talking to a trusted adult or teacher who can help you seek support.
“Could you be a life saver?” See our four steps below to help someone.
1. Don't be afraid to talk to them about it
“Talking about suicide will not make it happen!”
Things you can say:
- “Are you OK?” – Ask twice as people tend to say
okay automatically at first. - Just listen to them without judging.
- Ask questions to find out why they feel this way.
- Reassure them that these feelings won’t last and they can get over these feelings.
- Help them find somewhere they can go to get support.
2. Be Kind - don't bully!
Young people who bully others or who are bullied are more at risk of suicide. Bullying causes people to feel suicidal so don’t do it. Being kind to others saves lives.
3.Know what to do if someone is threatening to take their life
If someone is feeling suicidal or talking about taking their life, take it seriously. You should:
- Take them to your local hospital’s emergency department (A & E)
- Make an urgent visit with them to see a GP
- Drop in to a local Samaritans branch (based in Ipswich and Bury St Edmunds)
- Call the NHS Mental Health Crisis Support Line, call 111 and press option 2
If they are in immediate danger, you should:
- Call 999 – Stay with them or keep talking to them on the phone until help arrives.
- Don’t leave them alone.
- Always remember to put your own safety first when helping someone.
4. If they're distressed, find ways to distract them
A good way to do this is by using the ‘5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Technique:
- Name 5 things you can see around you.
- Name 4 things you can feel (clothes, warm, cool, breeze, touch)
- Name 3 things you can hear right now.
- Name 2 things you can smell (or, 2 things you like the smell of)
- Name 1 thing that you like to taste
Get them to focus on their breathing – close your eyes and inhale through your nose, slowly counting to four. Hold that breath for another four seconds and release your breath counting four seconds. Or breathe to the TikTok below.
Resources
Useful wellbeing apps:
Leaflet:
Schools and organisations can request copies of our Source ‘Feeling Overwhelmed or Suicidal’ Suffolk young life saver Z card, by emailing thesource@suffolk.gov.uk
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Page updated on March 24th, 2023 at 06:36pm
