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Suicidal thoughts and self-harm

This space discusses suicide and self-harm. Consider limiting the time you spend here. To use the section safely, read the pinned discussion.

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Sophie_M Do you have a safety plan?
  • replies: 96

Safety planning involves creating a structured plan – ideally with support from your health professional or someone you trust – that you work through when you’re experiencing suicidal thoughts, feelings, distress or crisis. Your safety plan starts wi... View more

Safety planning involves creating a structured plan – ideally with support from your health professional or someone you trust – that you work through when you’re experiencing suicidal thoughts, feelings, distress or crisis. Your safety plan starts with things you can do by yourself, such as thinking about your reasons to live and distracting yourself with enjoyable activities. It then moves on to coping strategies and people you can contact for support – your friends, family and health professionals. The safety planning model was developed in the US by suicide prevention experts Barbara Stanley and Gregory Brown. It has been used extensively by US veterans’ health organisations, hospital emergency departments and high schools, and there is strong evidence that it works. Many health professionals in Australia also use some form of safety planning to support clients experiencing suicidal thoughts or feelings, or after a suicide attempt. beyondblue has an app you can use to create a safety plan, called BeyondNow. The BeyondNow app takes the principles of safety planning and makes it even easier to use – so rather than carrying around a piece of paper, you’ve got it on your phone at all times. It’s free to download from the Apple Store or Google Play. If you don’t have a smartphone or would prefer to use your desktop or laptop, BeyondNow is also available to use on our website. Do you have a safety plan? Do you have questions around how you might create one, or fill out some of the sections? This thread is for discussing ideas around creating a safety plan, and sharing tips about what has been most useful about this process for you. Below are two videos featuring Peter and Nic, who have both used safety plans successfully. Peter Nic

Sophie_M PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: posting in this section
  • replies: 0

Life gets pretty hard sometimes and many people in this online community have had times where they have thought about hurting themselves or ending their life. This can be a stressful and at times overwhelming experience, and this section is here to h... View more

Life gets pretty hard sometimes and many people in this online community have had times where they have thought about hurting themselves or ending their life. This can be a stressful and at times overwhelming experience, and this section is here to help members who have had these experiences. This is a place to share where you are at, seek ideas for help and know that you are not alone. We are here to create a safe environment for everyone. Please do not provide any details about any plans/ideas that you may have had to hurt yourself, and importantly, help us to understand if you are safe by letting us know in the post. Making comments that let us know that you are having thoughts, but are safe, helps us to know that your conversation can continue without interruption, and that we do not need to put any further follow up for you in place. This section will not be for everyone.It shows posts from people who are distressed, offers public replies to these posts, and encourages people to come back and share how they got past that difficult point in time - what worked, what didn’t and how they now approach these difficult thoughts. It is important to think about what you want from the forums, what information you need and what threads will be helpful to your situation, rather than reading everything that is posted. For some people this section might be difficult to read – if it is not helping how you feel, then please consider moving to another section. This section, like the rest of our forums, is closely monitored and all posts are reviewed by moderators before publication. Moderators will also ensure that anyone needing follow up will be provided with information about how to access further support. ​This section remains a discussion forum focused on helping each other through the dark times, it is not a crisis support service. Any posts that do not abide by the community rules will not be published. Unlike other areas of the forum, threads in this section will be closed after a period of one month of inactivity. If you are in crisis or need immediate help, assistance is not available via these forums. Please call Suicide Call Back 1300 659 467, Lifeline 13 11 14 or contact emergency services on 000.

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2004 Relapsed
  • replies: 1

As for my last post I was on my 167 days SH free, but the day after I relapsed. And after the relapse happened, I keep craving for more but I’m trying my best to resist my urges. If you have some advices or things i could do besides talking to someon... View more

As for my last post I was on my 167 days SH free, but the day after I relapsed. And after the relapse happened, I keep craving for more but I’m trying my best to resist my urges. If you have some advices or things i could do besides talking to someone to distract me from SH please do

2004 breaking sobriety
  • replies: 4

I am 167 days sober from self-harm, but each day that pass by I feel like doing it again. I don't want to do it and I want to do it again at the same time. I need help but I dont want help yk? and i feel like im getting closer and closer everyday in ... View more

I am 167 days sober from self-harm, but each day that pass by I feel like doing it again. I don't want to do it and I want to do it again at the same time. I need help but I dont want help yk? and i feel like im getting closer and closer everyday in doing it.

Lea-nne So very sad again and can’t tell anyone I’m having suicidal thoughts
  • replies: 6

I was really sick in 2018 and was hospitalised for 3 months after significant trauma and an attempt to take my own life. I pulled together but seem to have relapsed again. I’m travelling for work and away from my husband every week. I’m a professiona... View more

I was really sick in 2018 and was hospitalised for 3 months after significant trauma and an attempt to take my own life. I pulled together but seem to have relapsed again. I’m travelling for work and away from my husband every week. I’m a professional in an executive role and everybody thinks I’m okay. I don’t know how to tell people who think I’m ok that I’m not. I can’t get over this overwhelming sense of sadness and the feeling that I don’t want to be here anymore.

Bellanana I'm not built for survival
  • replies: 3

I'm terrified of my future because I can't do anything. I had to drop out of high school because I couldn't handle it anymore. I'm still at the beginning of my healing and have a really long way to go. But I can't help feel like a faliure because I c... View more

I'm terrified of my future because I can't do anything. I had to drop out of high school because I couldn't handle it anymore. I'm still at the beginning of my healing and have a really long way to go. But I can't help feel like a faliure because I can't work or do basic tasks. I don't even know if I'll be able to work even after I heal. Which I even more terrifying. What if I become homeless? I can't take care of myself, but I need money. And centrelink doesn't care. They just want me to work even if I told them I can't. Im so mad that I get burnt out by every little thing. How am going to handle having a job if I can't handle taking care of myself everyday? I'm done for. This is all my life is and will ever be. I'll never be able to be financially secure or have a good life. Mental health cut my life short just like that. I don't understand how something so serious isn't taken seriously. I feel like I'm dying just existing.

idonteven_careanymore How do I stop
  • replies: 1

I’ve been self harming for about six months now and it’s getting to the point where I feel like I can’t do it any more. I was just wondering if anyone do some methods on how to start because it’s getting out of hand and I feel so guilty while doing i... View more

I’ve been self harming for about six months now and it’s getting to the point where I feel like I can’t do it any more. I was just wondering if anyone do some methods on how to start because it’s getting out of hand and I feel so guilty while doing it, but it’s my only way to relieve stress

ffii what do I do....
  • replies: 2

I am a loser, I am unsuccessful in everything I do, and I owe a lot of debt. Then I want to start making money again in Australia, but recently I heard from a friend that there is a good opportunity to make money, and there is no risk. I don’t know w... View more

I am a loser, I am unsuccessful in everything I do, and I owe a lot of debt. Then I want to start making money again in Australia, but recently I heard from a friend that there is a good opportunity to make money, and there is no risk. I don’t know why I actually believed it. He, I didn’t know the seriousness of the matter until he was arrested by the police last week, and he completely disappeared. However, everything I owned was seized by the police, including my mobile phone and my car. I didn’t even have enough money to go to the court. Then there was me. My visa is about to expire, and I have to find a job to support my life and visa. In addition, I will need huge legal fees and debts owed by my family. I can't breathe at all. My mind is very confused and I have no idea at all. How should I eat and sleep well? What should I do? I even have thoughts of ending my life.

stell_a178 Insanely Insecure
  • replies: 7

Hey all, just wanted to come on here because I’m having a really hard time living atm. not a single minute goes by where I am not hyper focused on my looks (body, face etc). I am constantly nitpicking everything about myself, especially when I’m near... View more

Hey all, just wanted to come on here because I’m having a really hard time living atm. not a single minute goes by where I am not hyper focused on my looks (body, face etc). I am constantly nitpicking everything about myself, especially when I’m near a mirror. It’s starting to really impact my mental health. I truly believe that no one will ever love me because of the weight I’ve gained. I always feel the need to seek validation from family. I can’t look in a mirror without seeing and feeling disgusted. it’s gotten to the point where I’m having negative thoughts. I’ve tried to seek help but it’s going nowhere. I’m seeing a psychologist, and I have tried medications, but they only make me put on even more weight. In a way I feel stupid for just focusing on myself, like I’m vain or something. But I’ve tried distracting myself - even at work - and nothing is working anymore. I don’t know what to do. stella

GreenEgg I feel sick
  • replies: 5

Something bad happened today, someone was hurt. I heard it happen but I didn’t see it. And I’ve been so stressed at work and I’m so sad. I feel like I mess everything up, like in this horrible awful waste of everything. I wish it happened to me, that... View more

Something bad happened today, someone was hurt. I heard it happen but I didn’t see it. And I’ve been so stressed at work and I’m so sad. I feel like I mess everything up, like in this horrible awful waste of everything. I wish it happened to me, that something would just happen to me

smallbutstrong I made a mistake
  • replies: 13

I made a huge mistake. I attempted to take my life 3 days ago, and have never regretted anything more than this. I wasn’t even that down when it happened, I drank too much and made the dumbest decision I’ve ever made. I’ve worried everyone in my fami... View more

I made a huge mistake. I attempted to take my life 3 days ago, and have never regretted anything more than this. I wasn’t even that down when it happened, I drank too much and made the dumbest decision I’ve ever made. I’ve worried everyone in my family and I have no idea how I’m supposed to get back to living my life as it was before. I just want to pretend that it all never happened, but I feel like I’ve crossed a line that changes the trajectory of my life. Im so anxious about this and I just really don’t know what to do to feel better. I do know that I never want to do this again, and I do want to live.

Lionmane_spaceball Tired of moving forward with life
  • replies: 2

Hi everyone, I will start with my diagnosis I have Borderline Personality Disorder, Depression, Anxiety, C-PTSD, Autism Level 2 and ADD. I'm 33 years old and I've been battling a hard life for a very long time. I'm tired of trying with my life honest... View more

Hi everyone, I will start with my diagnosis I have Borderline Personality Disorder, Depression, Anxiety, C-PTSD, Autism Level 2 and ADD. I'm 33 years old and I've been battling a hard life for a very long time. I'm tired of trying with my life honestly. I advocate for myself because nobody else wants to do it for me it's honestly so mentally draining I just want to scream in frustration. I have many professional support networks around me I have a pyschotherapist, the community mental health team, a drug and alcohol worker and various other organisations and people I see. I have NDIS support however they can't really do much for me I have support workers that take me out but I still feel loneliness. I have no real friends so I'm basically socially isolated I've tried very hard to make friends I have joined many groups but I failed to make long lasting friendships nobody is interested in being my friend it doesn't matter what I do nobody seems to like me. I am also having issues with department of housing with my neighbours housing don't want to take any action I've made many complaints and what not and nothing gets done so it causes me a great deal of mental stress to the point of breaking down in tears. I honestly feel like I don't belong in this world I've tried many helplines beyond blue, lifeline, sane,NSW mental health line, suicide callback service and nobody seems to listen. I've even been up to the local triage and assessment centre up at my local hospital for help and nobody takes me seriously. I feel like I don't belong in society or this world I'm trying really hard and I can't seem to hang on. The suicidal thoughts have become worse.