Suicide: Wanting to end your life
Do you need help now?
If you need help now please call Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 or Lifeline on 13 11 14. If you are in immediate danger please call 000. For more information read the Emergency help section.
What to do if you want to commit suicide
If you are feeling suicidal or want to end your life, it's important that you keep yourself safe. Try to remember that thoughts about suicide are just thoughts. They do not mean you have to act on them.
No matter how overwhelming they are or how often you have them. They also don't mean that you will always have those thoughts.
Everyone goes through tough times and experiences times when things seem hopeless. It is possible to get through these times by creating your own 'tool kit' of coping strategies, which you can use when you're feeling suicidal or when things feel hopeless.
Some suggestions include:
Postpone any decision to end your life
While it may feel like you have to act now on your thoughts of suicide, try to postpone that decision. Keep a list of other things you can do to distract yourself.
This might include:
- watching a DVD
- going to the movies
- playing a game
- ringing a friend
- chatting on msn
- doing some exercise
- reading a book
- listening to music.
You can then put this into action when the suicidal feeling starts to surface. Many people report that by postponing a decision to die, they found that their life did change. They were able to get the support they needed and could move on to a better, happier place.
Tell someone
Although it may seem hard, and may seem like a bigger challenge than taking steps to commit suicide, it's important to reach out to others who might help you to see alternative ways of solving or thinking about a problem, and to help you to realise what is important to you, allowing you to have a more positive outlook.
You could tell a family member or friend, counsellor or any person that you feel comfortable with (this might also be a teacher or religious leader). If they don't believe you or don't want to listen, keep trying until someone else does. Sometimes people don't react well at first because they don't know how. This is not your fault, and although it may feel hard, don't give up!
If you are having difficulty speaking about what you're going through, you might start with sentences such as 'Right now, I'm feeling...', 'I think it started when...', 'I've been feeling this for...', 'My sleep has been...', 'Lately school/work/uni has been...'.
Or try writing something down and giving the paper to the other person if you're having real difficulty speaking.
Ring a crisis line
If you are having difficulty talking to people you know, phone a crisis line.
Kids Helpline (KHL) (1800 55 1800) is free from a landline and won't show up on a phone bill.
Lifeline (131 114) is the cost of a local call from a landline.
Both of these services are anonymous and they're open 24hrs a day 7 days a week.
Write down your feelings
Writing down your feelings, or keeping a journal, can be a great way of understanding your feelings and a particular situation. It can also help you think about alternative solutions to problems.
Set small goals
Sometimes people set goals which are almost unachievable and then feel worse when they cannot reach them. Try to set goals that are achievable for you, even if it's on a day by day, or hour by hour, basis. And remember to reward yourself too.
Exercise + eating well
Even though you might not feel like it, exercising and eating well can help when you are feeling down.
Biological factors, as well as social factors, influence how you feel and how you react think about certain things and yourself. Exercise helps stimulate hormones, such as endorphins, which help you feel better about yourself and your life. If you haven't done a lot of exercise before, it might be a good idea to start doing something small a couple of times each week. A 15 minute walk or 2 or 3 laps of a pool would be a good place to start.
Avoid drugs + alcohol
Try not to use drugs or alcohol in the hopes of feeling better. Using them may help you forget about your problems for a little while but when the effects wear off you'll often just feel worse.
Talk to a psychologist or psychiatrist
Psychiatrists are health workers who have special training in mental illnesses, including depression, schizophrenia, and suicide. Clinical psychologists have a similar training, but do not administer medication.
You may be able to find them through your GP, your local community health centre, or through colleges of psychiatry and psychology. Some GPs and other allied health staff also do counselling. You may be able to obtain details through divisions of general practice in your area, and/or through your community health centre. Check out the Who can help you section for more info.
Why do people want to commit suicide?
Sometimes living can become very painful and problems can seem overwhelming. At some point many people think about suicide, but do not plan or act on it. However, for others the thought of suicide might begin to seem like a real alternative to a problem or situation that appears hopeless or as if there is no solution.
Situations that might contribute to a feeling of hopelessness include:
- relationship break-ups
- family problems
- sexual, physical or mental abuse
- drug or alcohol problems
- mental illness, including schizophrenia, bipolar and depression
- major loss and grief such as a death
- school, uni or work problems
- unemployment or being unemployed for a long time
- feeling like you don't belong anywhere
- any problem that you can't see a solution for and is ongoing.
Is deliberate self-harm the same as wanting to commit suicide?
Wanting to end your life, or suicide, is not necessarily the same as deliberate self-harm. Deliberate self-harm, such as cutting or burning oneself, is often used to cope with difficult or painful feelings. When someone can not express in words or make sense of their feelings or emotions, they may choose to hurt themselves physically.
However, most people who engage in deliberate self-harm do not wish to die. For more information about deliberate self-harm you may want to check out the Deliberate self-harm fact sheet.
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Comments (Page 1 of 1)
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Lishhh
8 months ago
Reply Reportthanks. for a while now ive been feeling a bit suicidal and i read this post a few days ago and i went for a job and i just felt so much better.
Edited by moderator 8 months ago
Sherwaz
6 months ago
Reply ReportThis was very interesting to read.. This has helped me to understand how i feel ..
Thankyou for this information..
Edited by moderator 6 months ago
Muay thai boxer
8 months ago
Reply ReportThis site helps me feel I'm not alone out there, that other people are feeling what I'm feeling.
Thank you
Spud
4 months ago
Reply Reportkhl... it sounds like kill...
are you trying to give me tips?! >:(
These factsheets need to be simplerrrrrr
anna
4 months ago
Reply Reporthey Spud :) We're always looking at ways to improve our fact sheets. Can you let us know what would make it simpler for you? More headings? more pictures? maybe a video? thanks ! :) Anna
anna
4 months ago
Reply Report@muay thai boxer - I'm really glad you found this helpful :)
Spud
4 months ago
Reply ReportIt'd be easier to understand, if it was like... done like wikipedia... with the choice of simple englishh
anna
4 months ago
Reply ReportI didn't know about that on Wikipedia! We want to make the website info as accessible as possible for everyone, so these ideas are great. So, do you reckon having a few choices - full fact sheet, shortened/simplified version and perhaps video/audio version would be helpful?
Of course resources dictate when we might be able to do this, but it's good to at least brainstorm ideas! :)
Spud
4 months ago
Reply Reportnarggghhh, anna youve cunfusd me!
O.P.H.E.L.I.A
4 months ago
Reply Report@Spud - What Anna was trying to say is that, since you mentioned about this factsheet:
anna
4 months ago
Reply Reportthanks The Lost one :)
hey Spud - like The Lost one said, we'd really like to know what other options would be easier to understand - do you prefer video or audio?
Or do you reckon a simple list of tips for fact sheets so you don't have to read so much?
Spud
3 months ago
Reply ReportIt'd be rel easy ta undrstandif it was like... yeah, a video... omg... (I iz helping the deaf) with captions...
Iwillbreak
about 1 month ago
Reply ReportI'm struggling with everything around me. Injuries, losses, setbacks, even things that i should be a part of but not included (rightfully knowing my biological father). Everything i seem to be involved in or associated with fails miserably and i seem to constantly wear the burden on the inside. Sure i talk abou things, whinge about them and even yell about them but the honest truth is that i have looked inside myself and i am honestly scared of what wants to come out if i let go. I hate feeling like this and it destroys me but i think its better than what i may become. I don't know where to start on any process to heal / sort my issues
O.P.H.E.L.I.A
about 1 month ago
Reply ReportHi Iwillbreak,
Antria
28 days ago
Reply ReportHey Iwillbreak,
It sounds like you are at a pretty hard place right now. When there is so much crap going on around you, there is a sense of failure and distress and you don't know where to start with getting through that stuff I can imagine that it might feel pretty hard at times to keep on keeping on!
I know a lot of people that come on RO have felt that way at some time in their lives (for me, I have to admit I felt that way for quite a long time). Maybe you should chat on the forums some time, if you don't already!
Although it can be hard to know where to start, sometimes talking to a professional can help because they can assist with drawing out the right words, helping you to make a start on working through some of the stuff going on and putting things in place that make life feel a bit better. Have you tried calling Kids Help Line or talking to a counsellor before? For me, it totally helped to turn things around so I hight suggest it!
I also like Locita's other suggestions as well!
Let us know how you go, and take care.
Roisin - RO Crew
26 days ago
Reply ReportHi Iwillbreak,
We are so sorry to hear that you are going through such a tough time right now and think you should be very proud of yourself for reaching out for help.
We understand that it can be difficult and scary to open up to people about what is really going on inside but trainned counselors know this and have the skills to help you feel safe and comfortable to talk about anything.
Please don't hesitate to call Kids Help Line on 1800 55 1800 or Lifeline on 13 11 14 if you feel you want to talk to someone.
Tessa
14 days ago
Reply ReportI'm so confused...
I really want to tell someone so they can help, but I dont want the people I know and love to ever know I feel this way.
And just the thought of telling someone makes it feel all the worse...
Roisin - RO Crew
12 days ago
Reply ReportHey Tessa,
Welcome to Reach Out!
It's awful to hear that you are going through such a tough time right now However, I think it is fantastic that you would like to get help. You should be super amazingly proud of yourself for taking this difficult first step in reaching out for help:)
This link will bring you to loads of information about different ways in which you can get help:)
http://au.reachout.com/find/getting-help/who-can-help-you
Also remember there is always Kids Help Line on 1800 55 1800 and Lifeline on 13 11 14. Please do not hesitate to give these guys a call, they are there to help:)
tootiredtolive
5 days ago
Reply Reportwhat do i do? the partner ive lived with for 15 years has lied almost the whole time we've been together, we have children and now they are lying, the embarrasment is unbearable, she's never home to help raise them, its one lie after another when i ask of her where abouts, im new to this so forgive me if ive posted on the wrong page, just looking for help
Edited by moderator 5 days ago
Roisin - RO Crew
5 days ago
Reply ReportHey tootiredtolive,
It sounds like you are going through a really tough time right now. You should be very proud of yourself for taking this big first step in looking for help:)
Please, if you feel like talking to someone about what you are going through do not hesitate to call Life line on 13 11 14.
Have you had a look at this section of the site all about where and from who you can find help:
http://au.reachout.com/find/getting-help/who-can-help-you
It has loads of helpfull information so that you can find the best type of help for you :)
All The Best
Roisin RO- Crew
tootiredtolive
4 days ago
Reply Reportthank you so much Roisin RO-Crew
after reading your reply and a few of the other letters on here, i feel so much better, im so grateful there is someone out there who thinks my life is too good to throw away, i havent worked up enough courage to ring someone just yet, your response did the trick, suddenly i feel like a fighter and want to continue on with life,
To anyone out there feeling a little down and out.... its true what they say...time heals (And knowing someone actually cares when you think nobody does)
Once again to the Roisin and the RO Crew.... Thank you!
Ps. Keep up the great work