Having suicidal thoughts? Getting Through Together

As hard as it is, reaching out and talking about how you feel or what you’re thinking with a trusted friend, whānau or family member can really make a difference. It’s not a sign of weakness to ask for help, it’s the bravest thing you can do.

There are lots of ways you can find support to get through this:

• You can free call or text 1737 to have a chat with a trained counsellor. They’re available day and night.
• Your GP, doctor or hauora service can help you access counselling and mental health services.
• Counsellors or psychologists are people who are trained to talk through the really hard stuff. During this time they can still communicate with people over the phone or using the internet. Your GP may be able to connect you with someone, your employer may have an EAP programme you could access or you can see the Mental Health Foundation’s guide to finding a counsellor.
• Mental health crisis teams can help in emergencies if you’re feeling really unsafe.

People who have lived through suicidal thoughts and experiences have found the following ideas have given them hope and helped them recover from suicidal feelings:

• Try to remember that thoughts about killing yourself are just thoughts. You don’t have to act on them. You won’t always have these thoughts.
• Connect with others. Right now, this is really important. Reach out to someone you trust about what’s on your mind.
• Be kind to yourself. You only have to cope with one day or one hour at a time.
• Keep safe. Get rid of anything you think you might use to hurt or kill yourself, or put it somewhere you can’t access it. Make a safety plan so you know what to do if you feel really bad. You can download a copy of this safety plan and fill it out to keep near you when you need it. 
• Distract yourself. Keep a list of things you can do to distract yourself, like watching a video, calling a friend, taking a walk around the block or listening to music.
• Look after yourself. Rest, eat regularly and get some physical activity. A walk around the block or doing some stretches at home can make a big difference. If you’re taking prescription medicine don’t stop taking it without talking to your doctor first.