What to do if you're feeling suicidal
Research shows that the most effective way of getting through suicidal thoughts safely is to distract yourself and remove anything you could use to end your life.
Reminding yourself of your reasons to live can also be helpful.
If you're feeling suicidal we strongly encourage you to get support as soon as possible. Support can help to keep you safe and feel better.
Skip to the support section on this page: Get support.
Distract yourself from suicidal thoughts
Doing things to distract yourself from suicidal thoughts can help keep you safe. Find what works best for you. Distractions which have worked well for others include:
going to places where you can be around other people
exercising
listening to music or podcasts
taking a refreshing shower
watching something you like (such as a film, YouTube video or TV)
walking outside
games and puzzles
being creative (for example, writing, painting or making things)
keeping busy (for example, cleaning or grocery shopping).
Make your surroundings safe
It's important to make your space as safe as you can. Get rid of stuff that could be used to end your life.
This could include:
lock up or get rid of anything you could use to harm yourself
give your medication and car keys to someone else to look after.
