All articles

Crisis & Safety

If you are having thoughts of suicide

4 min read

Suicidal thoughts are common in moments of intense pain. They are a signal to reach out, not to act.

Right now

Tell one person — a friend, family member, GP or crisis line. You do not have to explain everything. Remove or distance yourself from means (medication, weapons). Move to a safer place. The intensity of suicidal thoughts almost always passes; reaching the other side of the wave is the only goal for the next hour.

Crisis lines (24/7)

United States: dial or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline). United Kingdom: call 116 123 (Samaritans). Australia: 13 11 14 (Lifeline). Canada: 988. India: 9152987821 (iCall) or 9820466726 (AASRA). For a life-threatening emergency, call your local emergency number.

Building a safety plan

A written safety plan — warning signs, internal coping strategies, people to contact, professionals to call, environment-making-safer steps — reduces risk and is recommended by the U.S. Surgeon General, NHS and WHO. Ask your clinician or download a template from a trusted source.

Sources & further reading

Groundify summarises publicly available guidance from authoritative bodies. This article is educational and is not a substitute for assessment, diagnosis or treatment by a qualified clinician.

More in Crisis & Safety