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Young people with depression can

have feelings of great despair and

distress. These feelings can be so

intense that they lead to thoughts

of suicide. This doesnt necessarily

mean that the person will act on

these feelings its important,

however, that any thoughts of suicide

are taken very seriously by the

person and their family and friends.

WHAT MAKES PEOPLE WANTTO END THEIR LIVES?

Sometimes lie can become very painul and

problems can seem overwhelming. At some point

many young people think about suicide, but most

dont plan or act on it. However, or others the

thought o suicide might begin to seem like a real

alternative to intolerable emotional or physical pain,

or to a problem or situation that appears hopeless.

Situations that might contribute to a eeling o

hopelessness include relationship break-ups, amily

problems, sexual, physical or mental abuse, drug or

alcohol problems, mental illness (including depression,

anxiety, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia), major

loss and grie such as a death, and any serious

problem that is difcult to solve and wont go away.

The problems may not be obvious to you.

Mental illnesses such as depression change the

way people think, making it difcult or the person

to see a way out o his/her problems, causing them

to eel pessimistic about the uture.

HOW DO PEOPLE FEEL WHENTHEY ARE AT RISK?

People at risk o taking their own lie oten eel very

isolated and alone. They may eel like nobody can help

them or understand their pain. I someone you know

is not their usual sel, or i they are showing some o

the warning signs listed in the box above, you should

not ignore it. You need to talk to the person about how

they are eeling. Sometimes people become calm

WARNING SIGNS

Warning signs are the earliest indication

that someone may be at risk o immediate

suicide. They can be a cry or help as well

as an expression o hopelessness and pain

i recognised, warning signs provide a

chance or the person to get help and or

amily, riends and health proessionals

to intervene.

Its important to seek help i you or

someone you know:

feelstrappedandliketheresnowayout

feelsworthlessorhopeless,andthatlifeisnot worth living

startstalkingorwritingaboutdeath,dyingor suicide

withdrawsfromfriends,familyandthecommunity

increasesalcoholordruguse

experiencesregularpanicattacks

hasdelusionsorhallucinations

givesawaypersonalpossessions

doesdangerous,life-threateningthings.

In someone who shows several o these signs,a stressul or traumatic lie event or theworsening o a mental or physical illness, canact like the fnal straw that may lead them to

move rom thoughts o suicide to action.

In some cases o suicide, there may be noclear warning signs apparent, and its only inretrospect that they are noticeable.

I you think you or someone you know might

be in danger, seek urgent help. Call emergency

services (000), call Lieline on 13 11 14 or

Kids Help Line on 1800 55 1800, or go to

your local hospital emergency department.

SUICIDE KNOWING WHENTO GET HELP

Visit: www.youthbeyondblue.comIno line:1300 22 4636beyondblue: the national depression initiative

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ater being distressed and openly suicidal or a while.

While this can be a sign o recovery, it can also mean

that they have decided to complete their suicide plan.

People with depression and/or anxiety disorders are

more likely to have such thoughts.

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KEY POINTS TO REMEMBER

Suicideisusuallytheresultofacomplexsetof

actors, but it may be just one or two things thattrigger a person to move rom thought to action.

Rememberthatthoughtsaboutsuicidearejustthat thoughts. You dont need to act on them. They wontlast orever and oten they pass very quickly. Manypeople who have had serious thoughts o suicide saythat they elt completely dierent only hours later.

Ifyourefeelingsuicidal,therearemanywaystokeepyoursel sae and work through tough times. Gettinghelp early can assist you to cope with the situationand avoid things getting worse.

Ifyouhaveanysuicidalthoughts,donttrytomanageon your own. Talk to a amily member or riend, seeyour counsellor or GP, or call Lieline or Kids Help Line.

06/09

Visit: www.youthbeyondblue.comIno line:1300 22 4636beyondblue: the national depression initiative

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POSTPONE ANY DECISION TO END YOUR LIFEKeep a list o things you can do to distract yoursel and use

it when the eeling starts to surace. Give yoursel time to get

the support you need.

TALK TO SOMEONEReachouttootherswhomighthelp you to see alternative ways o solving or thinking about

a problem, and help you to have a more positive outlook.

I youre having trouble talking to people you know, phone

a crisis line (e.g. Kids Help Line, Lieline or the Suicide

Callback Service).

AVOID BEING ALONEHave someone stay with you,especially at night, until your thoughts o suicide decrease.

WRITE A SAFETY PLANCome up with a plan you can put into

action anytime such as organising

that you will ring a riend or amily

member when you eel overwhelmed

or upset.

WHAT YOU CANDO TO KEEPYOURSELF SAFEIts possible to get through tough

times by creating your own tool kit

o coping strategies, which you can

use when youre eeling suicidal or

when things eel hopeless. Its vital

to sort out the underlying problem

whether its depression, an anxiety

disorder or something else.

SOURCESThis act sheet is based on inormation rom:n youthbeyondblue www.youthbeyondblue.comn Living is or everyone www.livingisoreveryone.com.aun SANE Australia www.sane.org/inormation/actsheetsnReachOut!www.reachout.com.au

MORE INFORMATIONAND SUPPORT

You can speak to trained counsellorsby phoning these 24-hour telephonecounselling services:

Lieline13 11 14(cost o a local call)

Kids Help Line1800 55 1800(reecall)

Inormation and support is also availablerom the ollowing websites:

beyondblue www.youthbeyondblue.comor www.beyondblue.org.au

ino line 1300 22 4636

Inormation on depression, anxietyand how to help a riend

headspace www.headspace.org.au

Inormation, support and help near you

Reach Out! www.reachout.com.au

Inormation and support or young peoplegoing through tough times

The websites below can help you to fnd healthservices in your area. They list services that areeither ree o charge or low cost:

Kids Help Line www.kidshelp.com.au

Lieline Service Finderwww.lieline.org.au/service_fnder

I you or a riend want to communicate withsomeone via email or online, Kids Help Lineoers confdential, non-judgemental, emotionalsupport 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467

Free national telephone support service or people at risk o suicide, their carers and those bereaved by suicide

Salvo Care Line (Salvation Army)

OffersacrisiscounsellingserviceavailablethroughoutAustralia:

visit www.salvos.org.au or the number in your state.

Living is or everyone (LIFE) www.livingisoreveryone.com.au

Inormation resources or individuals and organisations involved in suicide and sel-harm prevention activities

SANE Helpline 1800 18 SANE (7263) www.sane.org

Inormation on mental illness and suicide prevention

HOW TO HELP SOMEONEAT RISK OF SUICIDE

Its distressing to realise that someone close to you

may be thinking about taking their own lie. Its oten

difcult to know what to say and do, and how to make

sure the person is sae. Most people who eel suicidal

recover rom these intense eelings. Family, riends

and health proessionals can make a big dierencein helping people stay sae and to fnd positive

reasons or living.

ACT STRAIGHT AWAY,take warning signsseriously and ask the person i they are considering

suicide and i they have any plans. This wont put the

idea into their head but will encourage them to talk about

their eelings. The persons saety is your main concern

and you need to do whatever it takes to get them the

help and support they need.

The tips in the table above can help you to work out

some practical things you can do to help or example,

dont leave the person alone, and remove any means o

suicide available (weapons, medications, alcohol and otherdrugs and access to a car). Encourage the person to get

support rom a health proessional. Try to give them hope.

Ask him/her to promise that they will reach out and tell

someone i suicidal thoughts return. And remember to look

ater yoursel in this difcult and emotionally draining time.

Its not always possible to intervene. In some people the

warning signs o suicide are not obvious and even the

most skilled health proessionals may miss them.

WRITE DOWN YOUR FEELINGSWriting downyour eelings, or keeping a journal, can be a great way to

understand your eelings, your situation, and think about

alternative solutions to problems.

SET SMALL GOALSTry to set goals that are achievableor you, even i its on a day-by-day, or hour-by-hour, basis.

And remember to reward yoursel too.

STAY HEALTHYExercise and eating well can help youto eel better and manage difcult things in your lie. Start by

doing something small a couple o times a week (e.g. a 15

minute walk or two or three laps o a pool).

AVOID DRUGS AND ALCOHOLAlcohol and otherdrugs are depressants that make you eel worse. They dont

help to solve your problems and they can make you do things

you wouldnt normally do.

SEE A MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALPsychologists, psychiatrists, counsellors and other health

proessionals are trained to deal with issues relating to suicide,

metal illness and well-being. Ask your General Practitioner

(GP) or contact a crisis line or inormation.