Displaying items by tag: suicide prevention

Quick Facts

• Feeling suicidal means feeling more pain than you can cope with at the time. But remember: no problem lasts forever. 
• With help, you can feel better and keep yourself safe. People get through this — people who feel as badly as you feel now. So get help now. You can survive. 

• If your life is in danger

  • Tell someone how you feel
  • Contact an emergency service to help keep you safe, such as:
    • Call 000
    • Call your local hospital and ask for the Mental Health Team
    • Go to your emergency department
    • Call a crisis helpline - they're listed at the end of this article 

• If you're feeling suicidal but not in danger right now

  • Try to distance your thoughts and actions. Say to yourself, ‘I will wait 24 hours before I do anything’, so you can seek help during that period. 
  • Put any items you could use to hurt yourself out of reach or destroy them. Or ask a trusted friend to look after them. 
  • Do something that has brought you even a small amount of pleasure or distraction before, such as taking a walk, listening to music, taking a hot bath, watching a funny movie, reading or some slow deep breathing. 
  • Get together with others, even if you don't feel like it, so you are not alone. 
  • Reduce drug or alcohol use. These can make it more likely that you may harm yourself, by making you more impulsive and increasing feelings of depression. 
  • Write about your thoughts and feelings. Remember especially to write about the things in your life that you value and appreciate, no matter how small they may seem to you. 
  • If you have developed a safety plan before, look at this again to remind yourself of strategies and ideas you have written before 

• Long-term support 

  Most suicidal thoughts are associated with underlying causes such as mental health issues (for example, depression), a trauma or difficult life events. 

  Psychological treatments can help, as can medication and support, or a combination of these. Remember people do get through this – even people who feel as badly as you feel now. Read more about what treatment and support is available for mental health issues.  

  Or contact SANE counselling support online or on 1800 187 263, Monday to Friday 10am-10 pm AEST/AEDT for support, information and referrals.  

  Some people develop safety plans to help them if they are feeling suicidal. If you haven’t developed a safety plan, you can create one yourself – or with a trusted friend, family member, or professional – using the Beyond Now webpage or app. 

• Where to call for help

  For immediate assistance:

  • Emergency Services: 000
  • Crisis Assessment Team (CAT) or Psychiatric Emergency Team (PET) at your local major hospital
  • Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467 
  • Lifeline: 13 11 14 
  • Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800 

• Connect with others and hear real stories 

  • Visit the SANE Forums to chat with others who get it. Start connecting with others who have been through mental health issues or suicidal thoughts and actions. 
  • Visit Better Off With You to find real stories of people who have survived suicidal thoughts and actions, and discovered how much they matter to the people around them.     

Quick Facts

• If you, or someone you know, is having suicidal thoughts and is in immediate danger, please call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance. Stay with the person until help arrives.  
• For help and support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467.  
• If you believe someone is thinking about ending their life, it’s natural to feel unsure, upset or even want to avoid thinking about it. However, there are a number of practical things you can do to help, that could even save a life.   

• Looking out for warning signs

  Signs that suggest someone might be at risk include: 

  • Talking about feeling hopeless and helpless, or being a burden  
  • Being socially isolated  
  • Having a recent loss — maybe a relationship, job loss, or death of a loved one  
  • Having made a previous suicide attempt  
  • Having a friend, family member or work colleague who has died by suicide  
  • Symptoms of a mental health issue getting worse  
  • Behaving in a risky manner – such as problematic alcohol or drug use or driving recklessly  
  • Giving away possessions  
  • Sudden, unexpected improvement in mood or seeming ‘at peace’.  

• Having the conversation 

  Let them know you are concerned 

  If possible, choose a good time and place to have a conversation, where you are both feeling calm and have plenty of time.  

  Tell them what you have noticed that makes you worried. This shows that you care, and that you are there to help.  

  You can also ask how they are going, but be prepared to follow up a “good” or “ok” with “How are you really? I want to know because I care”. Or, you can mention explicitly why you are concerned – like any warning signs you’ve noticed. 
   

  Ask if they are thinking about suicide  

  Ask the question directly; “Are you having thoughts about suicide?” This might feel uncomfortable, but a direct question encourages an honest answer.   

  Remember, talking about suicide will not make a person take their own life or put ideas in the head. It provides the opportunity for someone to say how they’re really going.  
   

  Listen 

  Listening without judgment can help reduce the shame they may feel about their suicidal thoughts.  

  Try to understand what led them to feel this way. Saying things like “That sounds really tough” can show that you are listening and trying to understand what they are going through.  
    
  Don’t jump straight into problem solving or convince them they shouldn’t have suicidal thoughts. This can feel dismissive.   
   
  
  Encourage them to get professional help 

  Tell them you understand they are in pain, but that there are options other than suicide.  

  Encourage them to make an appointment with a GP or a trusted mental health professional. They can take someone along for support if it helps.  
   
  You can also contact a mental health professional or employee assistance program, family member or friend on their behalf. Or, support them to make an appointment. 

  Professional helplines are also available to help: 

  • Kids Helpline – 1800 55 1800 
  • Lifeline – 13 11 14 
  • Suicide Callback Service -1300 659 467 

• What to do next 

  If you are worried about their safety right now 

  Many people experience suicidal thoughts in passing. Most people who experience suicidal thoughts do not die by suicide. But if someone is in immediate danger, call 000.  

  Sometimes, your gut feeling tells you something is very wrong. But if you are unsure, signs someone might be unsafe include: 

  • They are talking explicitly about dying, or planning to die by suicide 
  • They are very distressed, angry, or hopeless 
  • They are unwilling to get help  
  • They are experiencing an ‘at risk’ mental state, such as being affected by drugs or alcohol, or experiencing delusions or hallucinations 

  If possible, stay with them until emergency services arrive. 

  Helping someone keep safe 

  If they are not in immediate danger, but experiencing suicidal thoughts, there are things you can do to help them.  

  Many of these actions are best discussed with a mental health professional, but you can start these conversations, or check in. 

  • Suicide plans: Sometimes people have made a plan around suicide. Check if they are able to carry out their plan. Do they have a time, place or method of suicide in mind? If possible, work with them to dismantle this plan. Discuss how they could make their environment safer. 
  • Figuring out what helps: Help them brainstorm reasons for staying alive and the people, activities and services they can connect with when they are struggling.   
  • Safety plans: If they don’t have one already, you can help them complete a safety plan online or in a phone app to have on hand whenever they feel suicidal. Make sure you, or another trusted person, have a copy. 

  Take care of yourself  
   
  It can be emotionally challenging to support someone who is suicidal, so it’s important you try to keep yourself healthy.   

  • Don’t carry this challenging situation alone. Find someone to talk things over with, like your family, friends a helpline or a mental health professional.   
  • Keep doing the things you enjoy and that relieve stress for you.   
  • It’s ok to have limits on what kind of support you provide and for how long. 

  You are not alone. SANE has developed a tool for family and friends of people who have suicidal thoughts or have attempted suicide. Developed in partnership with friends and family who have been there too.  
   
  LEARN MORE 

• Support and resources 

  • Suicide helplines: Lifeline – 13 11 14, Suicide Call Back Service – 1300 659 467, Kids helpline - 1800 55 1800  
  • SANE’s counselling support – 1800 187 263  
  • Applied suicide intervention skills (ASIST) training 

Quick Facts

Suicide means not only a tragic loss of a life, but also great sadness and soul-searching by the family and friends and community of the person who has died. Over 3,300 Australians died by suicide in 2019 (AIHW, 2020). For every person who dies this way, it is estimated at least 20 more attempt suicide (ABS, 2009). 

Death by suicide is highest for men aged 45-49 or 80-84 (AIHW, 2020). Men make up around three quarters of deaths by suicide, although attempted suicide is more common in women than men (AIHW, 2020). 

• Suicide and mental health issues

  Around 20% of Australians are affected by some form of mental health issue every year, yet many do not receive the treatment and support they need (ABS, 2008). The suicide rate among people with a mental health issue is at least seven times higher than the general population. It is one of the main causes of premature death in this group. 

  Many people who die by suicide have experienced a mental health issue. Often people who are considering suicide are dealing with a combination of mental ill-health and difficult life events. But with effective treatment, social support and time, many who have tried to end their life, or considered ending their life, can go on to live full and meaningful lives. 

• Why do people feel suicidal?

  For people with a mental health issue, the distress caused by their experiences can be so great they may feel an overwhelming desire to end their life. People recently discharged from psychiatric care are at higher risk of suicide. Knowing someone who has recently died by suicide may also increase risk. 

  Suicide can also be related to distressing life events such as unemployment, relationship breakdown, being in debt or social isolation. Sometimes people feel like they are a burden to others and that loved ones would be better off without them. A suicide attempt may be an early sign of a mental health issue developing, so it is important to get help from a doctor. For someone with a mental health issue, the following may contribute to the risk of suicide: 

  Depressive illness

  Many people who attempt suicide have experienced major depression or bipolar disorder, and may experience very negative or self-critical thinking and periods of very low mood. 

  Related: Depression, Bipolar disorder

  Psychotic symptoms

  Some may attempt suicide because they are confused and distressed by hallucinations or delusions, or to bring ‘relief’ from untreated symptoms of psychosis. 

  Related: Psychosis

  Borderline personality disorder (BPD)

  People with BPD may harm themselves or behave in a suicidal way. Some find self-harm helps them cope temporarily with intense, negative emotions. 

  Related: Borderline personality disorder (BPD)

  Drugs and alcohol

  Harmful use of drugs (such as marijuana, heroin or amphetamines) and alcohol is closely related to suicidal behaviour.

  Related: Cannabis & psychosis

• What is self-harm?

  Self-harm means any behaviour which involves the deliberate causing of pain or injury to oneself. Self-harm is usually a response to distress – often the distress associated with mental health issues or trauma. In the short-term, some people find that it provides temporary relief from the psychological distress they are experiencing. While people who self-harm do not necessarily mean to kill themselves, it often becomes a compulsive and dangerous activity, and requires careful professional help. 

  Related: Self-harm

  With support and time, many people who have experienced suicidal thoughts or actions come to see things differently and live full lives. Visit Better Off With you to find real stories of people who have tried or considered ending their lives, and how they found their way through.  

• Resources

  Support for suicidal thoughts and actions (and if you are concerned about someone)

  Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800

  Lifeline (24-hour crisis telephone counselling) 13 11 14

  Suicide Callback Service 1300 659 467

  Call 000 for urgent medical attention or police attendance

  Information and advice on mental health issues  

  Contact SANE counselling support on 1800 187 263 or online, available Monday to Friday 10am-8pm AEST/AEDT.  

  Related SANE resources

  Finding help if you're feeling suicidal

  How to help if someone is suicidal

• References

  1. AIHW National Mortality Database and ABS Causes of Death, Australia 2020 https://www.aihw.gov.au/suicide-self-harm-monitoring/data/deaths-by-suicide-in-australia/suicide-deaths-over-time
  2. Australian Department of Health, The Mental Health of Australians 2: 8.1 Prevalence in the Australian population, May 2009 https://www.aihw.gov.au/suicide-self-harm-monitoring/data/deaths-by-suicide-in-australia/suicide-deaths-over-time
  3. ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) 2008. National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing: summary of results, 2007. ABS cat. no. 4326.0. Canberra: ABS.

Quick Facts

• Self-harm means any behaviour which involves the deliberate causing of pain or injury to oneself — usually as a way of trying to cope with distressing or painful feelings.

• Why do people harm themselves?

  Self-harm is often a response to feelings of extreme psychological distress or emotional pain. It may provide short-term relief from these feelings, but it doesn't allow the person to learn other ways of responding to the challenging emotions. 
  
  While people who self-harm may not intend to end their lives, the consequences of this behaviour can be serious, and it needs careful assessment and care by a health professional.

• How do you get help if you self-harm?

  Self-harm is often a sign that the person needs support. It is very important to see a GP or other health professional for an assessment and diagnosis, and to discuss a treatment plan. Treating the underlying causes will help make a long-term difference to reducing and stopping the impulse to self-harm.
  
  Treatment is likely to involve seeing a psychologist who is an expert in this area, and will know how to best help the person, as well as help them to help themselves.
  
  It’s a good idea to prepare for seeing a doctor by talking to a trusted person about the self-harming behaviour. This might be a family member or friend, or a suitable person at school or work. It’s also helpful to request a longer appointment, so there is time to talk, and take along some simple notes – for example, detailing how long the self-harming has been going on, and any other feelings or events which may be associated with it.
  
  Because self-harming behaviour is risky and possibly life-threatening, do not hesitate to call emergency services on 000 if necessary.

  Related: How to help in a crisis

• Are there alternatives to self-harm?

  It can be hard for people who self-harm to stop it by themselves. That’s why it’s important to talk to someone and see a doctor. It can help to try alternatives to self-harm which can relieve distress in the short term. These include:

  • Delay: for example, put it off until you have spoken to someone
  • Distract: for example, go for walk, play a game
  • Divert: for example, find an activity which has a similar effect to self-harm, but without causing injury, such as punching a pillow, drawing on arm instead of cutting, squeezing an icecube
  • Deep breathing: or other relaxation method

  These are not solutions to self-harm but can be useful as short-term alternatives while receiving treatment, and should be discussed with the treating doctor or psychologist.

• How do I help someone who self-harms?

  People who self-harm may be secretive or feel ashamed about their behaviour. It helps to talk calmly and non-judgmentally about your concerns.

  • Encourage the person to see a doctor or other health professional about the self-harming
  • Suggest options for getting help, rather than directing the person what to do
  • Do not hesitate to call emergency services on 000 if you think the person is at risk of serious injury
  • Remember that you cannot stop someone from self-harming and it is not your responsibility when they do. You can only do your best to encourage them to get help

• Getting support 

  If you need to speak with someone now, contact:

  • Kids Helpline - 1800 55 1800
  • Lifeline - 13 11 14
  • Suicide Callback Service - 1300 659 467
  • SANE Counselling Services - 1800 18 SANE (7263)

  Call 000 for urgent medical attention or in an emergency.