If You Are Thinking About Suicide
Are You Feeling Suicidal?
If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, you need to know that you’re not alone. By some estimates, as many as one in six people will become seriously suicidal at some point in their lives. Feeling suicidal is not a character defect, and it doesn’t mean that you are crazy, or weak, or flawed. It only means that you have more pain than you can cope with right now.
Remember:
Your emotions are not fixed – they are constantly changing. How you feel today may not be the same as how you felt yesterday or how you’ll feel tomorrow or next week.
Your absence would create grief and anguish in the lives of friends and loved ones.
There are many things you can still accomplish in your life.
There are sights, sounds, and experiences in life that have the ability to delight and lift you – and that you would miss.
Your ability to experience satisfying emotions is equal to your ability to experience painful emotions.
Take these immediate actions
Step #1: Don’t keep suicidal thoughts or feelings to yourself
Talk to someone and tell them how you are feeling and what you are thinking. It may be a family member, friend, counsellor, member of the clergy, teacher, family doctor, coach, or an experienced counsellor at the end of a helpline. If there is no one to talk to or you are alone, call Saskatchewan Health Line at 811 or go to your local emergency ward. Keep on talking about how you are thinking and feeling until someone ‘gets it’.
Step #2: Promise not to do anything right now
Thoughts and actions are two different things—your suicidal thoughts do not have to become a reality. TALK to a trusted friend, adult or family member. There is no deadline; no one’s pushing you to act on these thoughts.
Please wait. Wait and put some distance between your suicidal thoughts and suicidal action.
Step # 3: 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 #4: 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.
Step #5: Take hope – People DO get through this
Even people who feel as badly as you are feeling now can manage to survive these feelings. Take hope in this, there is very good chance that you are going to live through these feelings. Just give yourself the time needed and don’t try to go it alone.
Things to do that might help ease your pain
· `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. Call· Stay Sober: During this time especially, stay away from drugs and or alcohol.· Talk with someone every day, preferably face to face. Though you feel like withdrawing, ask trusted friends to spend time with you. Or continue to call a crisis helpline and talk about your feelings.· Make a safety plan. Develop a set of steps that you can follow during a suicidal crisis. It should include contact numbers for your doctor or therapist, as well as friends and family members who will help in an emergency.· Make a written schedule for yourself every day and stick to it, no matter what. Keep a regular routine as much as possible, even when your feelings seem out of control.· Get out in the sun or into nature for at least 30 minutes a day.· Exercise .· Make time for things that bring you joy. Even if very few things bring you pleasure at the moment, force yourself to do the things you used to enjoy.· Talk to someone
· Please stay alive
· We really do need you.
