You can hold on!
Suicidal thoughts are symptoms of an illness – they are not part of you. Do not listen to them.
1. Talk to someone
If you were drowning or in an accident, your friends would rush to help you! Tell them you feel so bad that you are thinking of ending it all. Saying it out loud can help you understand the reality of what you are contemplating.
If you can’t talk to a friend or someone in your family, call Lifeline (13 11 14), Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800) or Youth Beyondblue (1300 224 636).
2. Write down what you would tell a friend who was feeling suicidal
Imagine your best friend has just told you they are planning to kill themselves. What would you tell them? Write it down.
3. Do not be alone
Go and see someone or ask someone to come to you. If it’s night time, ask them to stay over, or ask if you can spend the night at their house.
4. Do not drink alcohol or take drugs
Have a warm bath; lie in a hammock; burn some aromatic oil; cuddle or stroke a pet (all these things are soothing for your senses).
5. Make yourself safe
Get rid of the methods you were contemplating using. Or ask your friend to lock them away. Avoid places you had been considering going with a view to harming yourself.
6. Go to sleep instead
Lie down on your back somewhere comfortable, and take slow, deep breaths. Focus your attention on your toes, feeling the muscles relax. Then move your attention to your arches, heels, ankles, calves and so on, all the way up to the top of your head. By bringing your awareness to your body, your mind can shift away from its negative thoughts.
If you have been prescribed sleeping tablets, take a safe dose of these; even if you do not sleep, they will lessen your emotional pain. Doctors give people painkillers when they have bad physical pain; it’s the same for psychological pain.
When you wake up, things will often seem very different, and you can access help from family, friends and professionals. Depression is a really common illness and it is treatable.