Suicide and Suicidal Thoughts
If you need help right now
If you or someone else is at immediate risk of harm, call 112 or 999 or go to your nearest emergency department.
If you’re having suicidal thoughts, please reach out. You do not have to wait until things become an emergency before asking for help.
- Samaritans: Call 116 123 for free, day or night.
- Pieta: Call 1800 247 247 or text HELP to 51444 for 24-hour support.
- Your GP or mental-health team: Contact them for professional help. If you need urgent support, ask your GP for an emergency appointment.
You can also tell someone you trust — a friend, partner, family member or colleague. You don’t need to find the perfect words to begin.
Having suicidal thoughts? Help is available.
Thoughts of suicide can sometimes arise when emotional pain, hopelessness or difficult circumstances begin to feel unbearable. You might feel frightened by the thoughts, ashamed of having them, or worried about how someone will react if you tell them.
You do not have to wait until you are in immediate danger before asking for help. If you’ve been thinking about suicide, wishing you were not here, or feeling that there is no way forward, please tell someone. That could be your GP or another healthcare professional, but it could also begin with somebody you trust — a partner, family member, friend or colleague.
You don’t need to know exactly what to say. You could start with:
“I’m really not doing okay. I’ve been thinking about suicide, and I need some help.”
Talking about suicidal thoughts can feel extremely difficult, but you deserve to be listened to and taken seriously, without judgement. Reaching out gives another person the opportunity to support you and help you find the right professional help.
If you’re worried about someone
If someone you care about seems to be struggling, or has told you they’re having suicidal thoughts, it can be difficult to know what to say or do. You might be afraid of saying the wrong thing or making matters worse.
You don’t need to have all the answers. What matters is taking their feelings seriously, listening without judgement and helping them find appropriate support.
There are some simple things you can do:
- Ask how they’re feeling. If you’re concerned about suicide, it’s okay to ask directly whether they’re having thoughts of ending their life. Asking does not put the idea into someone’s head.
- Listen and take them seriously. Give them time to talk. Avoid dismissing their feelings, arguing with them or telling them they have nothing to be upset about.
- Help them reach out. Encourage them to speak with their GP, mental-health team or a crisis-support service. You could offer to sit with them while they make a call or accompany them to an appointment.
- Act if there’s immediate danger. If you believe they may be at immediate risk of harming themselves, call 112 or 999 or help them get to an emergency department. Don’t leave them alone while arranging urgent help, provided you can stay safely.
You can also seek advice and support for yourself. Supporting someone through suicidal thoughts can be frightening, and you don’t have to manage it alone.
Suicidal thoughts and counselling
If you’ve been experiencing suicidal thoughts, speaking with a qualified mental-health professional can be an important step towards getting support. You don’t need to understand exactly why you’re feeling this way, or know what you want to say, before reaching out.
Counselling can provide a confidential, non-judgemental space to talk about difficult feelings, experiences and circumstances. It may help you explore what you’re going through and consider what further support you need.
Cara Counselling is not an emergency or 24-hour crisis service. If you’re at immediate risk of harming yourself, please use the emergency and crisis-support information at the top of this page rather than waiting for a response from Ann.
If you’re not in immediate danger and would like to explore counselling, you’re welcome to get in touch. We can discuss what you’re experiencing and whether working together would be appropriate for your needs.
Support after a suicide
Losing someone to suicide can bring many different feelings, including shock, sadness, anger, guilt or questions that may never have clear answers. There is no single way to grieve, and you don’t have to make sense of everything at once.
If you’ve been bereaved by suicide, talking with someone you trust or seeking professional support may help. You deserve space to talk about your loss without judgement or pressure to grieve in a particular way.
Ann has additional training in grief and bereavement counselling. You can read more about how counselling may help on our Loss and Grief page.
You don’t have to face this alone
If you’re having suicidal thoughts, please tell someone. You deserve to be heard and supported, even if you’re unsure how to explain what you’re feeling. You can start by talking to someone you trust, contacting your GP or reaching out to a support service.
If you or someone else is at immediate risk of harm, call 112 or 999 or go to your nearest emergency department.
For support, you can contact:
- Samaritans: 116 123 — free, day or night.
- Pieta: 1800 247 247, or text HELP to 51444 — 24-hour support.
You do not have to wait until things become an emergency to ask for help.
Would you like to talk to Ann?
If you would like to talk to Ann to explore counselling, you’re welcome to get in touch.
You can call, text or send a message using the options below. Please remember that Cara Counselling is not a crisis service, and Ann may not be able to respond immediately.