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Suicidal thoughts and self-harm

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Sophie_M 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 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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B3kki Am I alone
  • replies: 2

I am so fed up and deflated. My heart is heavy. I want to cry but nothing comes out. I lts hard to breathe. I feel like im screaming under water. Im tired. I don't sleep. I don't want to not be here but I have thoughts of tearing myself apart. I am t... View more

I am so fed up and deflated. My heart is heavy. I want to cry but nothing comes out. I lts hard to breathe. I feel like im screaming under water. Im tired. I don't sleep. I don't want to not be here but I have thoughts of tearing myself apart. I am the first to always help others no matter what. I feel like I'm a ticking time bomb. Where do I start?

lisalovesbacon Life isn’t going anywhere
  • replies: 3

Hi all, I thought I’d see if anyone has been in a similar situation to me. I’ve been single for 6 years now, no romantic prospects and my love life is just a string of one night stands. I am now 34 and starting to realise I’m getting older and my bio... View more

Hi all, I thought I’d see if anyone has been in a similar situation to me. I’ve been single for 6 years now, no romantic prospects and my love life is just a string of one night stands. I am now 34 and starting to realise I’m getting older and my biological clock is ticking. Unfortunately it doesn’t look like this is going to change. I want children, I want to be married. I’m over being single and it’s starting to get me down to the point where suicidal thoughts are an every day occurrence.

Fezzeh Selfharm
  • replies: 5

I dont know, ever since this month everything has been going downhill. I currently got broken up with and that made my mental health go downhill. My one year of being clean all gone to waste because of them. I tried everything but nothing helped or w... View more

I dont know, ever since this month everything has been going downhill. I currently got broken up with and that made my mental health go downhill. My one year of being clean all gone to waste because of them. I tried everything but nothing helped or worked its annoying and getting worsted

CharliRae94___ Highs and Lows
  • replies: 1

I constantly feel in a consistent flux between being so intensely happy with life and then crashing down to an extreme low, where i self harm and contemplate suicide. My life is otherwise okay aside from these feelings, which i think stems a lot from... View more

I constantly feel in a consistent flux between being so intensely happy with life and then crashing down to an extreme low, where i self harm and contemplate suicide. My life is otherwise okay aside from these feelings, which i think stems a lot from childhood sexual abuse. I am struggling to find the help that i need via a mental health care plan and am finding it difficult to find a gp/psychologist that will take me seriously because i think i can mask it all very well, or maybe they just don't get it. I don't know. I am at my wit's end. I am so sick of being told to use essential oils and somatic therapy when it does absolutely nothing for me. Not sure where to go from here.

white knight Suicidal thoughts- how to U-turn
  • replies: 3

Brother, uncle suicided. I, my sister and daughter all made attempts. Two weeks ago my wife's nephew passed the same way (unofficially). In my 67 years I think I had suicidal thoughts hundreds of times. Every time I reversed it- how is this done? Her... View more

Brother, uncle suicided. I, my sister and daughter all made attempts. Two weeks ago my wife's nephew passed the same way (unofficially). In my 67 years I think I had suicidal thoughts hundreds of times. Every time I reversed it- how is this done? Here as some ways- Time. In the depth of sadness taking time to pass by as there is "no rush to escape the demons"Breathe. Take long deep breaths, hold them when out and in for several seconds. Appreciate that action, you can breath, it is a wonder, a giftMove. Get up and walk up the street and back. Dont go far, your absence will be painful for othersLove. Let yourself love you. Appreciate. It's ok, it is all ok.Cry. Let it out. Changes. Once recovered alter your life with survival in mind. Employment, environment, toxic people, follow your dreams and seek out your true selfSeek help. You know you need it. Find the help you deserve. We arent super human.Pluck a comment that's positive. For me it was from my dad before my attempt- "better to be the best part time dad than no dad at all"Rest. Calm yourself, rest, reflect and gather what is valuable in your life. Suicide path is a hard road to walk, it hurts, its sad and its emotional. It can be devastating for family and friends. Action. What ever it takes. Any other road you take is better than the alternative you have considered.It's ok. it's all ok. Talk. Seek out you chosen professional. Chat away. Follow the road to recovery. Talk on this forum?Praise yourself. You've made it, now pat yourself on the back. Do you have ideas to make that U-turn? TonyWK

hannahjoanne I’m thinking of ending things
  • replies: 2

I feel so broken and useless. Since the start of this year it’s been one negative thing after another. I’ve tried to get a psychiatrist appointment to adjust my meds but now I’m on a three month wait list to get an appointment. I don’t know if I can ... View more

I feel so broken and useless. Since the start of this year it’s been one negative thing after another. I’ve tried to get a psychiatrist appointment to adjust my meds but now I’m on a three month wait list to get an appointment. I don’t know if I can make it until then. Everyday my inner monologue in a constant mantra or suicidal thoughts. I am barely keeping myself together at work and am having panic attacks regularly. On top of that I’m constantly stressed about finances and paying rent on time that everything seems useless. I barely have any close friends and I can’t see anyone wanting to be in a relationship with me. I don’t enjoying doing anything anymore and I feel so tired all the time. I’ve been self harming because it’s the only thing that makes me feel in control. I feel so lost and like a massive failure. Is this all my life is supposed to be? I won’t leave much of impact when I leave. I just wish I wasn’t here. I feel like it would be better for everyone.

_grey what next
  • replies: 3

i dont know what to do nowi push people away when they try to help mei think im worth nothing i starve myself each day beyond copingi just ruined my own friendship with two people by forging screenshots what should i do now

i dont know what to do nowi push people away when they try to help mei think im worth nothing i starve myself each day beyond copingi just ruined my own friendship with two people by forging screenshots what should i do now

Useless_one Where do I go now
  • replies: 2

As the title states where do I go now.I have never turned to asking complete strangers help. I'm at the lowest or lows and I don't see an exit that isn't suicide , my life is infested with hate and self torment,the constant thoughts of suicide fill m... View more

As the title states where do I go now.I have never turned to asking complete strangers help. I'm at the lowest or lows and I don't see an exit that isn't suicide , my life is infested with hate and self torment,the constant thoughts of suicide fill my brain,I sit empty in life and empty in soul and I'm sick of asking for help to be jumped from person to person to be told the same over and over...I sick of feeling like I'm all ways unwanted by other...

Kat-E-P Feeling stuck
  • replies: 3

Hi there, I’ve a history of CPTSD and BPD, I’ve been going through med changes for over a year and now I’m having another back to a dose I was previously on. My best friend has needed to step back from our friendship because I am negative and helping... View more

Hi there, I’ve a history of CPTSD and BPD, I’ve been going through med changes for over a year and now I’m having another back to a dose I was previously on. My best friend has needed to step back from our friendship because I am negative and helping me is too traumatic which it totally fair, and I do not blame her at all. it’s been a very hard time and she has been through a lot with me, I totally understand she needs a break. But Now I’m scared that I will also burn out my husband so I think I need to keep all of my thoughts and struggles to myself except for when I see my psychologist or psychiatrists. I relapsed with self harm to try to feel something different after a few months of not doing it. It didn’t help. Now I just feel sad, alone and helpless stuck on a cycle of med change after med change. Wondering if a combination that works for me will come up. In the meantime the loneliness feels heart breaking

E_ What happens if I tell my therapist I want to kill myself?
  • replies: 2

I'm worried about being sent somewhere I don't want to be. Is it OK to tell your therapist everything? Will they let me just leave the appointment and go home? Can I stop going to sessions if I choose?

I'm worried about being sent somewhere I don't want to be. Is it OK to tell your therapist everything? Will they let me just leave the appointment and go home? Can I stop going to sessions if I choose?