Suicidal thoughts and self-harm

Pinned discussions

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.

All discussions

Sorted by:

Start a discussion

In a psych ward for nearly 4 weeks but still suicidal

replies: 2

Came in to private mental health ward after an attempt. Been doing the program they have in this place which isn’t amazing (compared to others I’ve done) but my meds seem to be having an small/average impact. Family supportive. Gf being a patient saint. but my brain just ideates incessantly on some days and I feel incapable of connecting with people in here. That so many people are coming in and feeling better, laughing and connecting makes me feel worse and isolate in my room outside of groups they have (no group therapy, just lectures on mental health). Doctor has diagnosed bi - polar 2 which I question but who knows…..I don’t even know why I’m writing this I just feel lost in a place I’m supposed to be healing.

My story

replies: 2

To introduce myself simply I am a male high school student approaching my final year. Since the age of roughly 7 I have felt like my life worthless. I’ve never had a defining trait aside from being the person there to fill in space, one of my biggest grievances is that I lack hope. I don’t expect to own a house nor do I expect to have kids, get in a romantic relationship, find a job, find a hobby, or even simply feel content. This doesn’t mean I do not want these things it is just the fact that these things will likely never happen. I’ve struggled with self harm through my life even at that young age, I struggle to manage my frustration, I struggle to get tears out when I’m feeling down, I struggle to find the good inside myself when I can see it in others, I struggle to take criticism, I struggle to take compliments. This is just the tip of the iceberg that makes up me as a person. To me self harm can range from things like substances, self-injury, isolation/‘bed rotting’, repeating self deprecating thoughts, etc. yes I’ve done it all but yet I find myself too scared to take my life. my home life I wouldn’t call rough, yes we’ve had plenty of problems which I won’t go into but the stage my home life is at now would be considered good in comparison to some of the stories I’ve heard and seen. i don’t have a clear understanding or grasp of what is exactly causing this, i just think it’s me. To finish off I will list a range of things I feel and do on a daily basis so whoever willingly reads this may get a grasp on how I feel and who I am. Restlessness, Depression, Anxiety, Paranoia, Stress, Hopelessness, Constant feeling of choking, Lack of appetite, inability to speak, self isolation, poor memory, fatigue, self deprecation.

What to do/ where to get hepp

replies: 3

Hi, I am the survivor of recent suicide after along stay in hospitals. I am struggling with getting well both in mind and spirit. My body has healed to a great degree. More so the ever persistent feeling of remorse and shame over what I have done and... View more

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

replies: 1

I’m not gonna lie, life lost its sparkkk FUA!!!!!!!!

having to live

replies: 1

i think after a while, ive come to the conclusion that despite wanting to die and honestly praying for it every moment, even fantasising about possibilities about me dying, ive accepted that i cant die. like, i just cant. i feel like im not allowed to because the world tells me not to and i think the strongest factor is my mum. i dont want to make her sad. like i know that once im dead then theres nothing i can do about her emotions and how she copes with it but i love her too much to put her in such pain because i know she loves me but i think its ironic how im living to please someone, like it feels wrong but this point, thats literally the only reason why im not going to kill myself. that doesnt mean im not suicidal though and i think thats very evident but despite being in this mental state im going to live. killing myself has become not an option for me anymore (although i think about it everyday). but because ive accepted this reality of having to exist despite not wanting to, i dont know what im supposed to do now. like theoretically, i should be going to uni and meet a guy, fall in love and graduate from uni and get job and so on but thats things that i never imagined and plus, i dont want to live in that first place so i feel like its wrong to keep using my parents money to 'live' because it honestly feels wasteful but at the same time, what else am i going to do. humans either live or die and death isnt an option for me anymore because 'im young' and 'have so much to live for' so yeah. i feel like im kinda stuck in the conundrum where i want so desperately can not be attained so im doing something else but because i dont find any pleasure in this option, i feel like i will never be fully happy with my life and i will continue to have a war in brain about living and praying that i die soon, whether by some sort of accident, someone killing me and i fall ill.

Inner Pain

replies: 1

Helloi am feeling significant inner pain right now over an incident I cannot change. While I would not contemplate suicide because of my family and hurting others, I find myself thinking about going to sleep and not waking up. I am seeing a psychologist so will raise this with her this week. I am struggling day to day. I just want to stay in bed, feel very flat and depressed. My husband is helping a lot with looking after kids etc. I have seen the gp for medication but I am wondering if I need something else. Hard to see the way forward so am just taking it a day at a time.

I need advice

replies: 1

hi guys i need help i have depression anxiety, ptsd probably cptsd and a lot of other stuff my parents are divorced my dad sucks i live with my mum i went to court against my brothers at age 7 i started self-harming at age 9 I'm now 15 i have self destructive behaviours and have started self harming again my mum doesnt like me she is always saying im narcissistic and manipulative when i wasn't trying to do anything like that she has taken my notebooks and music all my coping strategies and cries for help are labeled as manipulation every small mistake a carefully crafted lie she is removing me from all the friend groups that i have been able to open up to.one second she will be happy im being a second parent and leading my sisters then shell snap and tell me to stop undermining her authority she is trying to make my sisters hate me by telling them im reading smut when it was a short romance scene similar to harry potter romances, i don't know what to do any advice is welcome

I don't think I was made for this world, I'm too weak even for the "help" we get

replies: 2

I have been battling depression since I was 13, I am over 35 now and my new part-time job or any other job is killing me with how low the pay is. At first it was ok, I had an inheritance and could work only 25 hours and still save money and enjoy life...but now things are so expensive, rent is being increases each year... I am barely holding on. I bought 3 pints of ice cream because, I am so close to ending things now on my side because I am too tired with all the xmas retail crap going on to do anything fun, and with only part-time hours and an inheritance, i still can't save money for things I used to enjoy... I'm hoping I can at least get something or one last advice to make me change my mind honestly because I know my partner always says he'll support me, but I can't have that happen, I am not going to drain his savings just because I can't support myself.

not been around for a while.

replies: 7

havent been here for a few years because i have been on top of or atleast keeping my brain in the closet for control. last few weeks have been realy shit after a bad accident and a loss of a long term lover . i am now struggling with thoughts of suic... View more

Trying to find hope on the horizon

replies: 2

So, I have become another sad and broken middle aged man. Typical childhood dramas left my self esteem in tatters and void of healthy boundaries. Bounced into a long term relationship that I maintained as best I could.. 20 years.. four beautiful children. I kept myself relatively healthy until things fell apart slowly.. She broke it off. I felt like an expired conveniece item. Discarded. I am a people pleaser and hung on as best I could until too mich venom let me let go and give away most of my house, car and custody. I was a mess.I didn't have the guts to end it. Or heart to do that to my kids. Who all adore me. Homeless for a couple years.. lived with family.. including my abusive mother who has some form of brain damage and can be terribly judgemental and threw alot of salt in my wounds. I met a new partner and became sweet friends. Both disfunctional. But we agreed to take care of eachother. When living arangements failed we drove interstate twice and evenyually got a rental house and I have a job and we are coping. My lack of boudaries leads me to being abused.She hates that I had kids. Days pretty hurtful things.. usually just as a retaliation for my jealousy and insecure fears. I am sick of my excuses and woe as me attitude.Keep just wanting to get sick and die without the guilt of suicide.. It haunts me everyday. I have had so much to be grateful for but I have made bad choices again. Puy myself second to my partner and feel trapped. Isolated from whatever friends and family I had.. and no longer hear from my kids.What should I do? Hard answers are fine.I really messed up my life*

Do you have a safety plan? replies: 97

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

In a psych ward for nearly 4 weeks but still suicidal replies: 2

My story replies: 2

What to do/ where to get hepp replies: 3

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR replies: 1

having to live replies: 1

Inner Pain replies: 1

I need advice replies: 1

I don't think I was made for this world, I'm too weak even for the "help" we get replies: 2

not been around for a while. replies: 7

Trying to find hope on the horizon replies: 2