5 quick things to do after suicidal thought

1: Promise not to do anything right now

Even though you’re in a lot of pain right now, give

yourself some distance between thoughts and action.

Make a promise to yourself: "I will wait 24 hours and

won't do anything drastic during that time." O r, wait a

week.

Thoughts and actions are two different things—your

suicidal thoughts do not have to become a reality.

There’s is no deadline, no one's pushing you to act on

these thoughts immediately. Wait. Wait and put some

distance between your suicidal thoughts and suicidal

action.

Step #2: Avoid drugs and alcohol

Suicidal thoughts can become even stronger if you have

taken drugs or alcohol. It is important to not use

nonprescription drugs or alcohol when you feel hopeless

or are thinking about suicide.

Step #3: Make your home safe

Remove things you could use to hurt yourself, such as

pills, knives, razors, or firearms. If you are unable to do

so, go to a place where you can feel safe. If you are

thinking of taking an overdose, give your medicines to

someone who can return them to you one day at a time

as you need them.

Step #4: Don’t keep these suicidal feelings to

yourself

Many of us have found that the first step to coping with

suicidal thoughts and feelings is to share them with

someone we trust. It may be a family member, friend,

therapist, member of the clergy, teacher, family doctor,

coach, or an experienced counselor at the end of a

helpline. Find someone you trust and let them know

how bad things are. Don’t let fear, shame, or

embarrassment prevent you from seeking help. And if

the first person you reach out to doesn’t seem to

understand, try someone else. Just talking about how

you got to this point in your life can release a lot of the

pressur

e that’s building up and help you find a way to

cope.

Step #5: Take hope - people DO get through this

Even people who feel as badly as you are feeling now

manage to survive these feelings. Take hope in this.

There is a very good chance that you are going to live

through these feelings, no matter how much self-

loathing, hopelessness, or isolation you are currently

experiencing. Just give yourself the time needed and

don’t try to go it alone.

Reaching out for help

Even if it doesn't feel like it right now, there are many

people who want to support you during this difficult

time. Reach out to someone. Do it now. If you promised

yourself 24 hours or a week in step #1 above, use that

time to tell someone what's going on with you. Talk to

someone who won't try to argue about how you feel,

judge you, or tell you to just "snap out of it." Find

someone who will simply listen and be there for you.

It doesn’t matter who it is, as long as it’s someone you

trust and who is likely to listen with compassion and

acceptance.

How to talk to someone about your suicidal thoughts

Even when you’ve decided who you can trust to talk to,

admitting your suicidal thoughts to another person can

be difficult.

Tell the person exactly what you are telling

yourself. If you have a suicide plan, explain it to

them.

Phrases such as, ‘I can't take it anymore’ or ‘I’m

done’ are vague and do not illustrate how serious

things really are. 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.

What if you don't feel understood?

If the first person you reached out to doesn’t seem to

understand, tell someone else or call a suicide crisis

helpline. Don’t let a bad experience stop you from

finding someone who can help