What To Do if You Feel Suicidal
Updated: May 6
National Suicide hotline: 800-273-8255
This article was written by one of our certified counselors on staff, but is not offered as mental health counseling. Please seek medical help if you are struggling. Please know you are not alone, and there are resources available.
THINK ABOUT
Who cares about you
Who you care about
Future plans
Your spiritual beliefs
Memories of small things that made you happy
"One step at a time"
How good things exist, whether you see them right now or not
How depression can trick us into wanting to hurt ourselves
How there is s difference between wanting the pain to end and wanting your life to end
How others believe things can get better, even if you don't believe it right now
DO
Something familiar
Something with others
Something that distracts you
Something comforting
Something warm (Drink hot cocoa, tea, etc. or snuggle in a blanket cocoon)
Something you are good at
Something to move your body
Something healthy
Something that is a treat (not necessarily healthy!)
Something special
Something that inspires you
Something that reminds you of hope
Call a friend
OTHER THINGS
Imagine that the "you" of the future or the past is talking to the You of today... What advice would you give yourself?
Imagine that you sat down next to someone on a plane who was sharing their life stories that reminded you of your own struggles. What advice would you give them?
Think of a favorite character in a movie or book. What would they say to you?
Imagine your pain or struggle as an object; What would you do to make that object smaller and have less power over you?
Imagine your pain or struggle as a Disney villain; What "helpers" would come to you (as the Disney hero) and what help would they offer? What would they say or do?
Find or create an object that reminds yourself of one of these concepts. (A picture or object from the past, a drawing of a villain or thing) Hold it and talk to it.
Imagine any of these things. You can write them down, or talk them out to yourself or a trusted friend.
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