Suicidal thoughts and self-harm

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Do you have a safety plan?

replies: 97

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

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 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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I Want To Die

replies: 3

My mind is so diseased and I am in so much pain that I pray for death . God doesn't seem to exist however. Or care. I am not sure which is worse. There is not a single human being I can speak to about it. People have their own problems and don't want... View more

On the brink

replies: 2

Have had an extremely hard time of late. Messed up bad this weekend was caught again drink driving. I know I have an issue with drink. But that's not the worst of it. My MDD is out of control. Double medicating to cope have Formication, extremely irritable and highly emotional to the point of being on the verge of tears constantly. Can't deal with anything at the moment and just want to disappear. EVERY time I think I'm getting on my feet I implode my life. Sitting here tonight sweating, highly emotional and entire right side tingling making me more and more anxious. Not sleeping and can't cope with anyone else's problems. Just don't know what to do anymore.

Heartbroken

replies: 1

My husband of 28 years walked out 6 weeks ago. He says (in a text!) he doesn’t want to be a couple anymore. I can’t sleep, I have times where I feel suicidal, I miss him desperately. I love him dearly, I cannot imagine a life without him, our kids finally are grown up after multiple mental health challenges, both dropped outdo year 12 but one has just started uni, I was looking forward to finally having some time together with less stress and instead I am in shock. How do I keep going? My family are negative, unsupportive people. I feel like I am just a burden to my friends, some of whom dumped me because they got tired of hearing bad news all the time. I just feel devastated and it’s getting worse and worse. Husband has agreed to attend counselling in 3 weeks, by I think that’s just to repeat that it’s over. I’m scared what I will do then.

Just not worth it

replies: 4

I am a sixty year old male and I have come to the conclusion the world doesn't care about anyone who isn't young and is suffering. The people around me will miss my wallet and money, but sadly I feel the will not miss me. My second wife saw me looking at some porn on the internet and she reckons she must be married a pervert. When she gets a idea in her head there is no moving it, so I will be a pervert for the rest of my life. She told me a few days ago that being with me makes her want to vomit. She is my world and my only friend. Her first husband also committed suicide and I think I now finally understand. I don't think anyone could live up to her standards. I got a referral from my GP to see a psychiatrist, I call every psychiatrist in Brisbane, none would see me because they don't work with people like me. I called every day to New Farm clinic and Toowong clinic for weeks, but nothing. All psychiatrists are full and most don't "take on" older patients. I was told by one receptionist that if I had tried suicide and failed then she could get me an emergency appointment. I asked, what if I tried and don't fail. She didn't answer and just suggested I phone someone else. When you get past a certain age, you become invisible and no long valued by society. I can't go through another divorce at my age and I am just pulling everyone down with me. I am just tied of living, of the battle, of the disappointments. I don't even know why I am writing on this forum. Thanks for listening.

I don't know where to go from here

replies: 2

Hi, I've been feeling really hopeless and suicidal recently and I'm not completely sure how to get help. I have a lot of trouble with motivation but I'm also sick of people telling me to "just breathe" or "take it one step at a time" but that doesn't help anymore! I need someone to convince me it's worth it to keep going. I'm not doing it because of my family or friends, I just don't think I should continue. I don't know, I've been feeling like this for almost 2 years now and I just feel it's time to give up.

Struggling with intrusive thoughts

replies: 2

Hi everyone, I have been struggling with suicidal thoughts but they do not feel like my own. It has been happening for about 6 months now. My sister committed suicide two years ago and my rational mind would do it or put my family through anything but I feel very trapped. Sometimes I have good days and then every two days I feel very very low. I feel like I talk about how depressed I have been with my boyfriend and I feel bad because I want our time to be happy together. I exercise, try to eat healthy and spend time with friends and dont drink often. I am trying so hard to do all the things i am meant to do. I have been to therapy a number of times but I felt like every week I wasnt getting anywhere and mindfullness kind of makes me anxious, especially when my thoughts dont go away. In my bad states my mind is either depressed and doesnt want to be here or angry at my family. My dad is an alcoholic and also struggles with depression but i get so irritable with my parents and struggle to show empathy. I feel like a bad person. I really want to stop feeling like this but my hope keeps disappearing the longer it goes.

Feeling sad

replies: 2

Hi I'm not doing well just feeling sad but I'm safe. My partner has cheated on me many times and I'm just broken. His also an alcoholic and my friend came down to visit and all they have done is go to the club and drink but nothing with me it's like I don't exist. This is his behaviour when he cheats. I also found out about 4 months ago he went to sex workers and lied to me for two years about it and in that time planned and made a baby with me. I'm not well physically either and at this point I just give up.

Running low on resilience.

replies: 6

Hi I posted a week ago when I was at a low point. I’ve tried to be positive, count the small wins etc. It works for a while but feels like I’m tricking myself with distraction because when I think about it, the issues are all still there. Only some are getting worse. The thing is that tackling a relentless flow of big problems, for over 50 years, wears you down and the resilience tank is empty. I can seem totally ok but if the smallest thing happens I mentally implode and become a mess. How is that meant to be worth living with. Every day. Im Having the “do I or don’t I” talk daily now. I’m not worried about dying, I’m worried about it failing and living even worse than now. I'm not sure why I’m posting this but probably because I have nobody else to talk to.

Lost and desperate

replies: 6

This is my first post and one I have written and deleted countless times. In the last few months I have attempted and wanted nothing more to end my life. I suffer from severe depression and anxiety and find most days all there is is darkness. I have in the last few months deleted all social media, lost all friends and family and become beyond afraid of venturing beyond my front door. I live on heavy anti dispersants and fight for anti anxiety medication because of its addictive properties. I have both a supportive gp and psychologist but that never makes the darkness go away. I am mum to speical needs children and a FIFO husband. I have no family support and some days am lucky to sleep 5 hrs a night. I have been recommended respite in a hospital but as I have only tried to end my life I guess you must be unconscious to qualify. The sad truth is depite it all. I want nothing more than to end this curse this pain!! Honestly no one would notice if I were to disappear as I have lost all family and never had any friends! So what on earth is the point. Year after year of darkness, honestly why can I not sleep never to wake. What does it take to be sick enough!

Reaching out

replies: 4

Hello everyone! I’ve never spoken or asked for help, I’ve been feeling suicidal the last few days , mainly from financial stress, can anyone give me any advice on what or who helps them ? Thank you

Do you have a safety plan? replies: 97

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

I Want To Die replies: 3

On the brink replies: 2

Heartbroken replies: 1

Just not worth it replies: 4

I don't know where to go from here replies: 2

Struggling with intrusive thoughts replies: 2

Feeling sad replies: 2

Running low on resilience. replies: 6

Lost and desperate replies: 6

Reaching out replies: 4