World Suicide Prevention Day: Here's who you can contact if you are struggling

Today (Thursday) is World Suicide Prevention Day.
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Help and support is available right now if you need it - you do not have to struggle with difficult feelings alone.

Here is NHS you may find helpful:

Phone a helpline

Leeds city centre.Leeds city centre.
Leeds city centre.

These free helplines are there to help when you're feeling down or desperate.

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Unless it says otherwise, they're open 24 hours a day, every day.

Samaritans – for everyone

Call 116 123

Call 0800 58 58 58 – 5pm to midnight every day

Visit the webchat pagePapyrus – for people under 35

Call 0800 068 41 41 – Monday to Friday 9am to 10pm, weekends and bank holidays 2pm to 10pm

Text 07860 039967

Email [email protected]Childline – for children and young people under 19

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Call 0800 1111 – the number will not show up on your phone bill

Talk to someone you trust

Let family or friends know what's going on for you. They may be able to offer support and help keep you safe.

There's no right or wrong way to talk about suicidal feelings – starting the conversation is what's important.

Who else you can talk to

If you find it difficult to talk to someone you know, you could:

call a GP – ask for an emergency appointment

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call 111 out of hours – they will help you find the support and help you need

contact your mental health crisis team – if you have one

Important

Is your life in danger?

If you have seriously harmed yourself – for example, by taking a drug overdose – call 999 for an ambulance or go straight to A&E.

Or ask someone else to call 999 or take you to A&E.

Tips for coping right now

try not to think about the future – just focus on getting through today

stay away from drugs and alcohol

get yourself to a safe place, like a friend's house

be around other people

do something you usually enjoy, such as spending time with a pet

See more tips from Rethink.

Worried about someone else?

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If you're worried about someone, try to get them to talk to you. Ask open-ended questions like: "How do you feel about...?"

Do not worry about having the answers. Just listening to what someone has to say and taking it seriously can be more helpful.

See Samaritans' tips on how to start a difficult conversation.

Making a safety plan

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If you struggle with suicidal thoughts or are supporting someone else, it may help to make a safety plan to use if you need it:

the Staying Safe website provides information on how to make a safety plan, including video tutorials and online templates to guide you through the process

the mental health charity Mind also provides information on planning for a mental health crisis

Related topics:

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