Talking to someone about your suicidal feelings

If you’re having suicidal thoughts talking about how you feel can be incredibly helpful and a number of people can support you, depending on what you’re looking for. 

Where to start

At first you might share your thoughts with someone you trust and feel comfortable with – this could be someone in your family, a friend, a teacher, doctor or other health professional.

• Try and think about it as just another conversation. Describe what's happened, how you feel and the help you need. It's best to be direct so that they understand how you feel.
• Be prepared for their reaction. People who learn that someone is suicidal can be quite shocked and emotional. Just keep talking and together you can find a way through it.
• Ask your support person to help you find support; in person, online, or over the phone.
• It's important to have support, but if you tell someone about your suicidal thoughts, you can't expect them to keep it a secret. They'll need to be able to help you stay safe and that usually means calling in extra help.

The Talk about it page on this website provides helpful tips on how you can find the words to say how you feel.

Keep safe

Try to focus your thoughts on finding ways to stay safe. Once you’re safe you can work out how you’re going to get the help you need.

It can be hard to think clearly when you're feeling suicidal, so having a plan in place means you can focus on following the steps until you feel safe again.

Find out more about making a safety plan.

• Remember that thoughts of suicide are just thoughts; you don’t have to act on them. These thoughts might only last a few minutes; you might feel differently in a few hours.
• Delay any decisions to end your life. Give yourself time to get the support you need.
• Remove anything in the house that you might use to impulsively harm yourself – maybe give it to a friend.
• Store crisis line phone numbers or web links in your mobile phone for easy use.
• Avoid being alone. Have someone near you until your thoughts of suicide decrease.
• Avoid drugs and alcohol. They can intensify how you feel and make decision making more impulsive.