Suicide

Action and Advice

Suicide - Action and Advice: Text

How to cope with suicidal thoughts.

Talk with someone every day

Even though you may feel like withdrawing, ask trusted friends and acquaintances to spend time with you. Or continue to call a crisis helpline and talk about your feelings.

Create calling list

Make a safety plan

Develop a set of steps that you can follow during a suicidal crisis. It should include contact numbers for your doctor or therapist, as well as friends and family members who will help in an emergency.

Safety Plan Template

Make a written schedule

Make a written schedule for yourself every day and stick to it, no matter what. Keep a regular routine as much as possible, even when your feelings seem out of control.

Create a schedule

Remember your personal goals.

You may have always wanted to travel to a particular place, read a specific book, own a pet, move to another place, learn a new hobby, volunteer, go back to school, or start a family.

Make a bucket list

Suicide - Action and Advice: List

Suicide - Action and Advice: Features

How to tell someone you're having suicidal thoughts

Tell the person exactly what you are telling yourself. If you have a suicide plan, explain it to them
Try to avoid using vague phrases, for example 'I can't take it anymore' or 'I'm done'. Instead, tell the person you trust that you are thinking about suicide.
If it is too difficult for you to talk about, try writing it down and handing a note to the person you trust. Or send them an email or text and sit with them while they read it.

5 Steps to Recovery

Actionable Steps

Identify Triggers

Identify triggers or situations that lead to feelings of despair or generate suicidal thoughts, such as an anniversary of a loss, alcohol, or stress from relationships. Find ways to avoid these places, people, or situations.

Take care of yourself

Take care of yourself. Eat right, don’t skip meals, and get plenty of sleep. Exercise is also key: it releases endorphins, relieves stress, and promotes emotional well-being.

Build your support network

Surround yourself with positive influences and people who make you feel good about yourself. The more you’re invested in other people and your community, the more you have to lose—which will help you stay positive and on the recovery track.

Develop new activities and interests.

Develop new activities and interests. Find new hobbies, volunteer activities, or work that gives you a sense of meaning and purpose. When you’re doing things you find fulfilling, you’ll feel better about yourself and feelings of despair are less likely to return.

Learn to deal with stress in a healthy way.

Find healthy ways to keep your stress levels in check, including exercising, meditating, using sensory strategies to relax, practicing simple breathing exercises, and challenging self-defeating thoughts.

Suicide - Action and Advice: Services