Help for suicidal or unusual thoughts
From NHS Choices
Life can be incredibly challenging, and it's not uncommon to feel overwhelmed at times. These thoughts and feelings can be complex, frightening and confusing, but you do not have to struggle alone.
Is your life in danger? If you have seriously harmed yourself – for example, by taking a drug overdose – or you feel that you may be about to harm yourself, call 999 for an ambulance or go straight to A&E. Or ask someone else to call 999 or take you to A&E.
If you are deaf and need an ambulance, use the 999 British Sign Language service or 999 text to speech Relay UK service or 999 SMS text service.
try not to think about the future – just focus on getting through today
stay away from drugs and alcohol
get yourself to a safe place, like a friend's house
be around other people
do something you usually enjoy, such as spending time with a pet
See more tips from Rethink
Talk to someone you trust
Let family or friends know what's going on for you. They may be able to offer support and help keep you safe.
There's no right or wrong way to talk about suicidal feelings – starting the conversation is what's important.
Phone a helpline
These free helplines are there to help when you're feeling down or desperate.
Unless it says otherwise, they're open 24 hours a day, every day.
You can also call these helplines for advice if you’re worried about someone else.
Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust - Mental Health Helpline
Call 0808 800 3302
This service links you with triage nurses and clinicians who can assess your needs and give advice, support, signpost or refer you directly to the appropriate team.
If you are deaf, use the NHS 111 British Sign Language service or NHS 111 text to speech Relay UK service
Samaritans – for everyone
Call 116 123
Email jo@samaritans.org (can take up to a week to respond)
Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM)
Call 0800 58 58 58 – 5pm to midnight every day
Visit the webchat page
Papyrus – for people under 35
Call 0800 068 41 41 – 9am to midnight every day
Text 07860 039967
Email pat@papyrus-uk.org
Childline – for children and young people under 19
Call 0800 1111 – the number will not show up on your phone bill
SOS Silence of Suicide – for everyone
Call 0300 1020 505 – 4pm to midnight every day
Email support@sossilenceofsuicide.org
Message a text line
If you do not want to talk to someone over the phone, these text lines are open 24 hours a day, every day.
Shout Crisis Text Line – for everyone
Text "SHOUT" to 85258
YoungMinds Crisis Messenger – for people under 19
Text "YM" to 85258
Who else you can talk to
If you find it difficult to talk to someone you know, you could:
call a GP – ask for an emergency appointment
call 111 out of hours – they will help you find the support and help you need
contact your mental health crisis team
visit a Neighbourhood Mental Health Café - these drop-in centres are for anyone to come and talk about their mental health in confidence - no appointment needed
Worried about someone else?
If you're worried about someone, try to get them to talk to you. Ask open-ended questions like: "How do you feel about...?"
Do not worry about having the answers. Just listening to what someone has to say and taking it seriously can be more helpful.
See Samaritans' tips on how to support someone you're worried about
Read Rethink's advice on how to support someone who is having suicidal thoughts
Read Mind's advice on how to support someone experiencing psychosis
Making a safety plan
If you struggle with suicidal thoughts or are supporting someone else, it may help to make a safety plan to use if you need it:
* the Staying Safe website provides information on how to make a safety plan, including video tutorials and online templates to guide you through the process
* you can also get information on planning for a mental health crisis from mental health charity Mind
Life can be incredibly challenging, and it's not uncommon to feel overwhelmed at times. These thoughts and feelings can be complex, frightening and confusing, but you do not have to struggle alone.
If you're feeling like you want to die, it's important to tell someone
Is your life in danger? If you have seriously harmed yourself – for example, by taking a drug overdose – or you feel that you may be about to harm yourself, call 999 for an ambulance or go straight to A&E. Or ask someone else to call 999 or take you to A&E.
If you are deaf and need an ambulance, use the 999 British Sign Language service or 999 text to speech Relay UK service or 999 SMS text service.
Tips for coping right now
try not to think about the future – just focus on getting through today
stay away from drugs and alcohol
get yourself to a safe place, like a friend's house
be around other people
do something you usually enjoy, such as spending time with a pet
See more tips from Rethink
Help and support is available right now if you need it. You do not have to struggle with difficult feelings alone
Talk to someone you trust
Let family or friends know what's going on for you. They may be able to offer support and help keep you safe.
There's no right or wrong way to talk about suicidal feelings – starting the conversation is what's important.
Phone a helpline
These free helplines are there to help when you're feeling down or desperate.
Unless it says otherwise, they're open 24 hours a day, every day.
You can also call these helplines for advice if you’re worried about someone else.
Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust - Mental Health Helpline
Call 0808 800 3302
This service links you with triage nurses and clinicians who can assess your needs and give advice, support, signpost or refer you directly to the appropriate team.
If you are deaf, use the NHS 111 British Sign Language service or NHS 111 text to speech Relay UK service
Samaritans – for everyone
Call 116 123
Email jo@samaritans.org (can take up to a week to respond)
Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM)
Call 0800 58 58 58 – 5pm to midnight every day
Visit the webchat page
Papyrus – for people under 35
Call 0800 068 41 41 – 9am to midnight every day
Text 07860 039967
Email pat@papyrus-uk.org
Childline – for children and young people under 19
Call 0800 1111 – the number will not show up on your phone bill
SOS Silence of Suicide – for everyone
Call 0300 1020 505 – 4pm to midnight every day
Email support@sossilenceofsuicide.org
Message a text line
If you do not want to talk to someone over the phone, these text lines are open 24 hours a day, every day.
Shout Crisis Text Line – for everyone
Text "SHOUT" to 85258
YoungMinds Crisis Messenger – for people under 19
Text "YM" to 85258
Who else you can talk to
If you find it difficult to talk to someone you know, you could:
call a GP – ask for an emergency appointment
call 111 out of hours – they will help you find the support and help you need
contact your mental health crisis team
visit a Neighbourhood Mental Health Café - these drop-in centres are for anyone to come and talk about their mental health in confidence - no appointment needed
Worried about someone else?
If you're worried about someone, try to get them to talk to you. Ask open-ended questions like: "How do you feel about...?"
Do not worry about having the answers. Just listening to what someone has to say and taking it seriously can be more helpful.
See Samaritans' tips on how to support someone you're worried about
Read Rethink's advice on how to support someone who is having suicidal thoughts
Read Mind's advice on how to support someone experiencing psychosis
Making a safety plan
If you struggle with suicidal thoughts or are supporting someone else, it may help to make a safety plan to use if you need it:
* the Staying Safe website provides information on how to make a safety plan, including video tutorials and online templates to guide you through the process
* you can also get information on planning for a mental health crisis from mental health charity Mind
Updated on: 31/05/2023
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