World Suicide Prevention Day this year is focusing on ‘Reaching In’, using the hashtag #BeTheLight to encourage people to strike up conversations.  Our actions – no matter how big or how small, may provide hope to those that are struggling.  Awareness of suicide, and ways to help really can make a difference.    Here are some words that may help you to talk about it:

You don’t seem yourself

I’m worried about you

It will help to talk about how you’re feeling ……

Are you having thoughts about suicide?

 Here is the link for World Suicide Prevention Day 2023 – Creating Hope Through Action #BeTheLight

 

What are suicidal feelings? Suicidal feelings can be vague thoughts about ending your own life or feeling that people would be better off without you.  Or it can mean thinking about ways to end your own life, and / or making plans to do this.    These can be scary thoughts for you – you may be confused by them and feel overwhelmed – not knowing who or where to turn to.

You are not alone – many people have suicidal thoughts at some point in their life

What does it feel like to be suicidal?  This will be different from person to person.  You might feel unable to cope with your thoughts and feelings.  You might be thinking – not about taking your own life, but more about not living the life you have anymore.    It can be very common to be scared and overwhelmed by these feelings, and it can be difficult for you to talk about feeling like this without alarming someone you live with or a friend.

Suicidal thoughts can be complicated.  You might feel: hopeless; tearful and overwhelmed by negative thoughts; unbearable pain you don’t think will end; useless – not wanted or needed by others; desperate – as if there is no other alternative solution; like the world would be better off without you; numb – cut off from your body; you might focus on death and dying.

You might experience: poor sleep / disturbed sleep; a change in appetite – over or under eating; no desire to care for yourself and a lack of interest in your appearance; a desire to avoid being with people; you might struggle to talk to others in ways that you used to; poor self-image / thinking about your self negatively.

How long will I feel like this? This is different for everyone, but it is common to believe you’ll feel like this for ever.  With treatment and support though, people do recover from feeling suicidal.

The earlier you let someone know how you’re feeling, the quicker you can get support to help overcome these feelings.  The thing is though – it can be difficult to begin to talk about feeling this way.  You might feel you can’t tell someone, or you’re unsure who to talk to, or concerned they won’t understand – that they won’t ‘get it’.  And you might feel like they will judge you or worried you’ll upset them; but sharing how you’re feeling really does help.  It’s definitely worth taking a deep breath and reaching out to someone.

 

There are many ways someone else can support you:

The person you talk to can encourage you to talk about your feelings.  Just listening and giving you the space to talk can be helpful.

Encourage you to seek professional support  – your GP is a good first person to talk to.  And they might come with you if you need them to.

Practical help also helps! Help can come in many forms:  encouraging you to write things down / keep a journal; help you to keep organized; accompany you to any appointments you might have.

Where can I get support:  Talking to your GP is a great first option.  So is talking to a counsellor / mental health professional.

Helplines include:

Samaritans – Call free: 116 123 (24 hours a day, 365 days of the year)

SANEline – 0300 304 7000 (4.30pm – 10.30pm, normally every day)

  • If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, or supporting someone else, including family, friends and carers you can call SANEline who offer specialist emotional support, guidance and information.

The Molly Rose Foundation – www.mollyrosefoundation.org

  • The aim of the Molly Rose Foundation is suicide prevention, targeted towards young people under the age of 25. MRF wants to help reach those at risk of suicide and connect them to the help, support, and practical advice they need

National Suicide Prevention Helpline – www.spuk.org.uk Call free on: 0800 689 5652 open 6pm – midnight

  • National Suicide Prevention Helpline UK is a helpline offering a supportive listening service to anyone with thoughts of suicide. Our helpline is here to support you when you feel you need us.
  • This can be different for everybody – some people can reach that point daily, and for some people it is a rare occurrence. Our helpline volunteers are empathic and non-judgemental, providing a space and time for you to talk about how your feeling or somebody close to you. The helpline is a confidential service for those aged 18 or over.

CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) – 0800 58 58 58 (5pm – 12pm, 365 days of the year)

Shout – Free UK service. Text ‘SHOUT’ to 8525 (24 hours a day, 356 days a year)

  • Confidential service for anyone experiencing emotional difficulties. To start a conversation, text the word ‘SHOUT’ to 85258. Trained volunteers are here to listen at any time of day or night, and messages won’t appear on your phone bill.

Papyrus Hopeline UK – Call free: 0800 068 4142 (9am – midnight, every day of the year)

  • Hopeline advisors want to work with you to understand why thoughts of suicide might be present. They also want to provide you with a safe space to talk through anything happening in your life that could be impacting on your or anyone else’s ability to stay safe.
  • This helpline is for children and young people under the age of 35 who are experiencing thoughts of suicide as well as for anyone who is concerned that a young person could be thinking about suicide.

Side by Side – Online Community Support – www.sidebyside.mind.org.uk/ (24 hours, 7 days a week)

  • Side by side is a community where you can listen, share and be heard. This service is for individuals over the age 18 and is moderated by the team at Mind and protected by community guidelines.

Trauma Research UK – www.traumaresearchuk.org

  • A national trauma charity offering support and resources to those suffering from trauma and anxiety related symptoms such as phobias, panic attacks, PTSD, OCD, GAD etc. Please remember, “It’s not what is wrong with you, it’s what happened to you”.

Kooth – www.kooth.com (24 hours, 7 days a week)

  • An online mental health wellbeing community offering free, safe and anonymous support, articles, discussion boards and daily journals. You are also able to chat online or via text with the Kooth team who are trained counsellors. To access the service you need to register for free. This service is available to people aged 11 years to 25 years old.

Childline – Free call 0800 1111 (24 hours, 7 days a week) / www.childline.org.uk

  • Childline is a counselling service for children and young people. You can contact Childline in a number of ways. You can call on 0800 1111, send an email, have a 121 chat with Childline, send a message to ask Sam, and you can post messages onto the message boards. No problem is too big or small, contact Childline if you are feeling scared, worried or just want to speak with someone. To use some online services, you will need to register free first.

Young Minds – www.youngminds.org.uk

  • A website that can support young people and their parents/carers. This website offers advice and articles to help you navigate your way through mental health symptoms, how to cope and where to get help. There is also a parent line you can call on 0808 802 554, Monday to Friday 9.30am – 4.00pm

The Mix – www.themix.org.uk Call for free on: 0808 808 4994 or Crisis text messenger on: THEMIX85258

  • Whether you need a quick chat or more focused support, our trained team provides help for young people aged 11-25. Talk to us about your mental health, relationships, work life, school life, depression and any other issues all year round. Call us 4pm-11pm every day, email us, chat one-to-one online, sign up for free counselling online or text our 24/7 crisis line.

Students Against Depression – www.studentsagainstdepression.org

  • Students Against Depression provides you with a calm online environment and the resources to help you find a way forward – a website offering advice, information and guidance to those affected by low mood, depression and suicidal thinking. This website offers a self-help modules and resources and offers a personalised step-by-step pathway to apply relevant information and strategies for overcoming your depression. Included in the resources section is access to free easily downloadable ‘Keeping myself safe plan’ and ‘Reducing self-harm plan’.
  • This website is useful not only students but any young person struggling with their mental health.

Switchboard LGBT+Helpline – www.switchboard.lgbt Call free on: 0800 0119100 open 10.00-22.00 every day

  • If you identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender, we can offer advice and understanding. You are always best placed to make decisions about your life. We want you to finish your call feeling you have options. There are choices to communicate through open chat and also via email as well as telephone.

Grief Encounter – https://www.griefencounter.org.uk Call free on: 0808 802 0111 open 9am -9pm

  • A service for young people, their friends or family members needing help or advice following the death of someone close. Webchat and email support also available.

Carers UK – www.carersuk.org 0808 808 7777 Monday to Friday, 9am – 6pm (excluding Bank Holidays) 

SHOUT – www.giveusashout.org text SHOUT to 85258

  • If you would prefer not to talk but want some mental health support, you could text SHOUT to 85258. Shout offers a confidential 24/7 text service providing support if you are in crisis and need immediate help.

Cruise – www.cruse.org.uk Call free on: 0808 808 1677 Opening hours vary. Please visit their website open times.

  • Our Helpline is run by trained bereavement volunteers, who offer emotional support to anyone affected by grief. We will give you space to talk about your feelings and how you’ve been coping. Our volunteers are completely non-judgemental and won’t share what you’ve told them with anyone else, unless you are in danger.

Marie Curie – www.mariecurie.org.uk Call free on: 0800 0902309 open 8am-6pm Mon- Fri and 11am-5pm on Saturday, and are closed on Sunday.

  • If you want to talk to someone following a bereavement, we’re here for you. Whether your bereavement was expected, happened recently or was some time ago, we can help. This service is available for adults aged 18 or above.

Child Death Helpline – www.childdeathhelpline.org.uk Call free on: 0800 282 986 Opening hours vary. Please visit their website open times

NHS Merseycare Crisis Support Helplines

  • A mental health crisis often means that you no longer feel able to cope or be in control of your situation. It often involves a sudden or continued worsening of your symptoms. You may feel great emotional distress or anxiety, feel you can’t cope with day-to-day life, think about suicide or self-harm, or experience hallucinations and hearing voices.

Liverpool and Sefton – www.merseycare.nhs.uk/urgent-help Call free on: 0800 145 6570 Lines are open 24/7, 365 days of the year.

  • This service is available to anyone aged 16 and over

Halton, Knowsley, St Helens and Warrington – www.merseycare.nhs.uk/urgent-help Call free on: 0800 051 1508 Lines are open 24/7, 365 days of the year

  • This services is available to children, young people and adults

Cheshire and Wirral – www.cwp.nhs.uk/getting-help/need-urgent – Call free on 0800 145 6485 Lines are open 24/7 365 days of the year

 NHS Wales C.A.L.L helpline– www.bcuhb.nhs.wales/health-advice/mental-health-hub/support-in-a-crisis/ – Call on 0800 132 7376485 Lines are open 24/7 365 days of the year

  • C.A.L.L offers emotional support and information/literature on mental health and related matters, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Anyone concerned about their own mental health or that of a relative or friend can access the service. C.A.L.L. helpline offers a confidential listening and support service. C.A.L.L. Helpline has launched a Mental Health text messaging service allowing people to access support and information via a text message from their mobile phone. Text ‘help’ to: 81066

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