Thinking about suicide does not make it inevitable that you are going to take your own life. There are ways to live with thoughts of suicide. Lots of people have thoughts of suicide but the good news is that there are many people and organisations that really want to support you through this difficult time and help you to resolve whatever it is that has led you to the point of thinking about suicide. Reach out and talk. Talking about our fears and feelings is difficult – even to those closest to us. Words are sometimes wholly inadequate to convey the amount of pain and distress a person may be going through. It is easy to understand that someone is hurting if they have been badly injured or are physically ill. Emotional pain cannot be seen, but it can be just as unbearable. You might feel unsure of what to do, but there are lots of sources of support that might help. Friends and Family can offer emotional and practical support and space to talk about their feelings You can seek treatment and support from your GP or other professionals Look for sources of advice and support that might address the problems in your life currently. Find out about the range of Helplines and Online support forums available Explore ideas to improve your Wellbeing and general mood. Make a Safety Plan. Friends and Family Emotional support and understanding offered by family and friends can have a hugely positive effect. If people have a positive experience of opening up about their suicidal thoughts and asking for help, then many more suicides will be prevented. Sometimes talking with friends and family about their feelings can be invaluable in helping someone feel safe and secure, and helping the thoughts of suicide pass. Some people though may need professional support to help overcome their suicidal thoughts, and the situation that has led to it. GP’s and NHS Services Your GP can refer you to a range of NHS mental health services including talking treatments such as CBT and Crisis support. If possible, bring someone else with you to your appointment that you trust. It helps to prepare what you want to say to your GP, and it’s very important to be open and specific about your thoughts of suicide. Have a look at Doc Ready and Mind's Find the Words to find out more about talking to your GP about your mental health If thoughts of suicide are becoming more difficult to manage then you can call North Cumbria NHS Universal Mental Health Crisis Line 0800 652 2865 South Cumbria NHS Urgent Mental Health Support Line 0800 953 0110 These are open 24 hrs a day/7 days a week and are for all ages. Your GP may also refer you to the local NHS Crisis Team who – either for a home or hospital appointment – and this may lead to home based support for the duration of your immediate crisis. Visit our Support Directory pages to find out more about NHS support available in Cumbria Medication Your GP can also prescribe medication which might help. Although there no specific drugs to treat suicidal feelings, your GP might offer you medication to help you cope with your symptoms, or to treat a mental health problem such as depression, which might be causing your suicidal feelings. Medication might include, antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilisers or sleeping pills. Mind have a wide range of information about Medication here. Other professional support There are lots of different places someone can access help for thoughts of suicide. Have a look at our Support Directory to see some ideas of the types of services available. Alternatively, you can give one of the listed helplines a call to talk about your options for support. Telephone/Text Helplines There are some really helpful telephone and text helplines for people experiencing thoughts of suicide, some of which are open 24 hours a day, at times when friends and family may not be there to listen. Put their numbers in their phone. See the Telephone and Text Helplines section below or find out more on our Support Directory. Peer Support Many people find talking to someone who has been through the same situation as them as very supportive. Have a look at the Online Support Communities in ours Support Directory. Safety Plan A Safety Plan is a way of working out what might be helpful in keeping someone safe when they are having thoughts of suicide. It sets out what someone can do to help themselves and what they would do, and who might support them in a crisis. It’s also a useful way of keeping important information and contacts together in one place. Download our Pocket Guide to Safety Planning or visit our Safety Planning page to start writing your own.