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Having suicidal thoughts?
Having suicidal thoughts?
There is help available, you do not have to struggle with this alone. Suicide is never the only solution to end the despair you may be feeling, even though it might sometimes feel that way.
These feelings may have been around for a long time or they may have come on suddenly in response to things you have been through or are experiencing right now or because of mental health problems.
WAIT because with help, your circumstances, thoughts and feelings can and often do change.
A conversation could change your life
Speak to a friend, family member or someone you trust as they may be able to help you feel calmer and find some breathing space.
If you can’t think of anyone right now, or you just don’t want to talk to loved ones or you feel completely alone, there is help out there. You are not alone. There are people and supportive services that will listen and help you through this time in your life.
Many people who have also had suicidal thoughts talk about times when they felt exactly this way and are now so glad they reached out. Take a deep breath and read on if only for five minutes. These five minutes could be life changing.
24 / 7 immediate help
Under 18
Freephone: Alder Hey Crisis Care on 0808 196 3550.
A trained and experienced team is on hand ready to listen and offer urgent mental health support, 24 hours a day seven days a week.
Text: the word GREEN to 85258 .
This is a free, confidential 24/7 text message support service which is available for anyone who is feeling overwhelmed or is struggling to cope.
You can also speak to your GP or if you are younger your school nurse or teacher.
18 and over
Freephone: Mersey Care NHS on 0800 145 6570.
A trained and experienced team is on hand ready to listen and offer urgent mental health support, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Text: the word HEAL to 85258.
This is a free, confidential 24/7 text message support service which is available for anyone who is feeling overwhelmed or is struggling to cope.
You can also speak to your GP.
Choose to postpone your decision if just for today whilst you contemplate all this information.
If you don’t feel able to keep yourself safe right now, call 999 or go to A&E.
Online help
18 and over
Online: If talking is difficult or you don’t have faith in services just yet or worried it might create more problems perhaps go online at Mersey Care.
Suicidal thoughts can be complex, frightening and confusing
They can also feel comforting only because you think you have found a solution to end the pain you are in. There are other options it’s just hard to see right now. Give help a chance
You need to get help and speak to someone if you:
- feel sure that you want to die
- desperately want a solution to your negative thoughts and can’t see any other way out
- don’t care if you live or die and are taking more risks or living recklessly
- don’t actively want to kill yourself but would welcome death if it happened. You might view death as a release or way of taking control
- don’t know why you are having suicidal thoughts or suicidal feelings, and are completely powerless to know what to do about it
Even if your thoughts about suicide come and go and seem mild to you at times, this is still a sign that you need support to feel better, having any thoughts about suicide is a sign of poor mental health and there are many supportive services that can help.
Tips for coping right now
Although you may be struggling at the moment and feel trapped, please remember:
- It’s okay to ask for help. There are people who can listen, help and support you through this.
- Most people, even people you don’t know, will want to help if you reach out.
- You won’t always feel this bad. How you’re feeling at the moment will pass with some help to solve the problems
- Thoughts are only thoughts – you don’t need to follow them. There are many ways to manage suicidal thoughts other than harming yourself.
Mersey Care, Liverpool’s mental health trust have lots of advice on how to cope.
Help is available
If you are under 18 the following organisations provide help and support:
Liverpool CAMHS
Supports children, young people and their families, whilst working with professionals to reduce the range of mental health issues through prevention, intervention, training and participation.
Papyrus
A national charity set up over twenty years ago to prevent the deaths of young people under 35 by suicide. They offer support to individuals, parents, carers and professionals on how to keep young people safe in periods of suicidal crisis. Freephone 0800 068 4141. Open 9am-10pm weekdays and 2pm-4pm weekends and bank holidays.
Extra support for under 18 LGBTQ+ communities:
THE Action Youth (Trans Health Education)
A youth group that supports young people aged 12-18 years old who identify as trans, gender questioning, or young people whose gender identity (internal sense of self) does not match with their assigned gender at birth.
GYRO- LGBTQ+ Youth (YPAS)
GYRO is a collection of youth groups (separated by age) for young people who identify themselves as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Trans*, or who are questioning their sexuality or gender identity (LGBTQ+).
If you are over 18 the following organisations provide help and support:
Life rooms
Advice and help with mental health, debt, housing and physical wellbeing. They also have online learning covering topics such as physical activity, depression and arts. Call Life Rooms on 0151 478 6558.
Samaritans
Talking to someone can help you get your thoughts in order. You might feel lonely, distressed or worried about your life situation. Call Samaritans on 116 123.
Liverpool Crisis Cafe
A night café named the Liverpool Light (The Light) is a welcoming and safe space that people experiencing mental health-related crisis can turn to for support during the evening.
Stay Alive App
To help anyone who is having thoughts of suicide, or anyone who is concerned for someone they care about. It signposts to local support and features a safety plan for those in crisis and a lifebox which can be filled with memories and images of loved ones.
No More Suicide
Local help and support to prevent suicide, including support for men’s mental health.
James' Place
Help is available for every man facing a suicidal crisis with support to help them find hope for the future. James’ Place works with health partners to deliver a service to men whose needs have not been met by traditional services.
Hub of Hope
A UK mental health support database provided by national mental health charity, Chasing the Stigma. It brings local, national, peer, community, charity, private and NHS mental health support and services together in one place for the first time.
Papyrus
A national charity set up over twenty years ago to prevent the deaths of young people under 35 by suicide. They offer support to individuals, parents, carers and professionals on how to keep young people safe in periods of suicidal crisis. Freephone 0800 068 4141. Open 9am-10pm weekdays and 2pm-4pm weekends and bank holidays.
Extra support for over 18 LGBTQ+ communities:
Mersey Care Trans support service
Supports transgender and gender non-conforming people living in Liverpool, Sefton and Knowsley by listening to them, informing them of available options to relieve their gender distress and empowering them to move forward with their lives.
LGBT foundation
The LGBT foundation provides help and support for LGBTQ+ people experiencing suicidal thoughts.