What to Do if You’re Thinking About Suicide
Crisis Resources/Help Now
First of all, if you are in immediate danger, call or text one of these hotlines. If they are not useful to you, contact a trusted friend or family member. You are not alone.
Local (Cleveland County, NC)
Mobile Crisis Unit (24 hours) - 855-527-4747
Cleveland Crisis and Recovery - 704-751-3693
Partners Behavioral Health Crisis Line - 1-833-353-2093
Atrium Behavioral Health (24 hours) - 704-444-2400
Hopeline NC (call or text) - 1-877-235-4525
National
Call or text 988 (24/7)
Text HOME to 741741 for support through the Crisis Text Line (24/7)
Call or text The Samaritans (24/7) - 1-877-870-4673
Teen Line - Call 800-852-8336 6 pm - 10 pm PST every night or text TEEN to 839863 6 pm - 9 pm PST
YouthLine - Call 8779688491 or text teen2teen to 839863
Call 4 - 10 pm PST to talk to with a trained youth for peer-to-peer support
Adults are available by phone all other times
The Trevor Project Hotline for LGBTQ+ Youth - Call 1-866-488-7386 (available 24/7/365)
Acknowledging that you need help is an important step to getting the support you need. There is hope simply in the fact that you are seeking help.
If you are dealing with suicidal thoughts, here are a few things to consider:
Start with this statement, pulled from here: “Suicide is not chosen; it happens when pain exceeds resources for coping with pain…You are not a bad person, or crazy, or weak, or flawed, because you feel suicidal. It doesn't even mean that you really want to die - it only means that you have more pain than you can cope with right now.”
Know that people do get through this, even those who have felt as badly as you do.
Give yourself time. Say “I will wait 24 hours before I do anything.” Or a week. Put distance between your suicidal thoughts and suicidal actions. If you’ve found this article, you have already put time between the thoughts and the action, you can do it for another 5 minutes. Keep going and notice that while you may still feel suicidal, you are not in this moment acting on it.
People turn to suicide because they are seeking relief from pain. Remember that relief is a feeling. And you have to be alive to feel it. You will not feel the relief you so desperately seek, if you are dead.
Some people may react negatively to your suicidal feelings, usually because they are scared or angry. This reaction might increase pain for you. Know that their bad reactions are about their fears, not you. There are people who can and will be there for you in this time and will not judge you or argue. Use the 24 hours or the week you’ve given yourself and tell someone what’s going on with you.
You can use the crisis resources detailed here, but also consider a mental health professional, a carefully chosen/trusted friend, faith leader, etc.
Remember that suicidal feelings are traumatic. After they subside, you need to continue caring for yourself and therapy is a good idea to help you through this. If this is not an option for you right now, know that there are many free resources available both in our community and on the internet - check them out here.
If suicide feels like the only option, it is not because other solutions don’t exist, you just might not be able to see them yet. Intense emotional pain distorts your thinking and makes it harder to find solutions or connect with someone who can offer support. Reaching out to others can help you see solutions that might not be obvious to you. Give them a chance to help.
Additional reasons to stay:
Think of the things you miss out on: new music by your favorite artist, new movies with your favorite actors or by your favorite director, new friends you haven’t met yet, new opportunities or experiences, your friends’ weddings, children, and new memories with them.
Your emotions are temporary, even if they feel impossibly overwhelming right now. How you feel today may not be how you felt yesterday, tomorrow, or next week.
Your absence will be felt by the people around you. They will miss you and feel anguish that you are gone.
There are things you can still accomplish in your life.
There are places and things you’ve never been to or done before, things that can bring you joy, that you will miss out on.
Your ability to experience positive, uplifting emotions is equal to your ability to feel distressing ones.
Actions to take if you’re feeling suicidal:
Remember not to act immediately on thoughts. Make a promise to yourself to wait and not do anything drastic for 24 hours or a week. Your thoughts and actions are different, so your thoughts do not have to become reality. There isn’t a deadline to act immediately.
Avoid consuming drugs and alcohol. Your suicidal thoughts can become more intense when consuming substances. Do not use non-prescription drugs and alcohol when you feel hopeless or are thinking about suicide.
Create a safe space in your home. Remove objects that you can use to harm yourself: pills, sharp objects, razors, firearms, etc. If this is not possible, go to a place where you feel safe. If you’re considering overdose, give your medicine to someone who can return your medicine to you one day at a time or as you need them.
Don’t keep your your suicidal feelings to yourself. A crucial step to coping with and getting through distressing emotions and suicidal thoughts is talking to someone who will listen to and help you.
Remember that there are people who have felt like you do at this exact moment and have also managed to survive their feelings. Try to find hope in this.
Make a safety plan. These are plans that list who to contact, things that make you feel better, what your triggers are, and more. Here’s a useful worksheet to help you develop a plan. Here is a helpful guide to navigating mental health crises.
Talking to Others About Your Suicidal Thoughts
Speak with someone who is likely to listen to you with compassion and non-judgement. This is a person who won’t judge you, or tell you to snap out of it. This will make talking about your thoughts easier. Try these talking points if it is difficult:
Talk about exactly what you are telling yourself, including if you have a plan.
Remember that phrases like “I’m done” or “I can’t take this” are vague and may not accurately describe the severity of your situation. It is important to be honest and clear.
If it is too hard to talk about, it is okay to write it down and give it as a note to a person you trust. You can also send an email or text and sit with the person while they read it.
If they don’t seem to understand you, try talking to someone else or calling a crisis line. Do not let a bad experience keep you from finding someone who can help you.
More Reading:
If You’re Thinking About Suicide, Read This First
