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: 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.

All discussions

Nate093 Excessive guilt
  • replies: 2

Has anyone every experiences unreasonable guilt?. Going back to about 2011 I accidently concused my workmate participating in a kind of "fight club". I was mixed in with the wrong group of people and this isn't usually me Forward to about 2019, I lea... View more

Has anyone every experiences unreasonable guilt?. Going back to about 2011 I accidently concused my workmate participating in a kind of "fight club". I was mixed in with the wrong group of people and this isn't usually me Forward to about 2019, I learned about post concusion syndrome and what it can do to people (depression, suicide, brain complications etc). I now feel guilty day in day out to the point I feel I don't deserve the basic pleasures in life like sleep. I no longer have contact with this person and can't make sure he's alright. I just don't know how to get myself out of this mental spiral! I'm burnt out and I feel like I don't deserve to get better as well. Any advice would be greatly appreciated

anonymous_username Help
  • replies: 2

I'm stuck and i want to die.My only support is my friend but I've stopped telling her things because it puts to much weight on her and she's already been through so much. My mental health has gotten to a point where I'm seriously considering going to... View more

I'm stuck and i want to die.My only support is my friend but I've stopped telling her things because it puts to much weight on her and she's already been through so much. My mental health has gotten to a point where I'm seriously considering going to the hospital, but I can't because I'm 13 and I don't trust my parents. They're great people I just don't trust them. I wish I could just die but I couldn't do that to my siblings. They're 8 and 10 and i love them to the end of the world and back. I got yelled at for crying (I'll admit it was for a stupid reason) and it made me feel like trash. No-one takes me seriously because I'm 'not emotionally mature enough'. I have a self harm addiction and no one knows because they don't pay attention to me at all. Please someone just talk to me like a human and not a 6 year old.

Nothing Left I’m completely lost
  • replies: 8

I’m a 49 year old man. My 25 year marriage broke down. I moved out of our huge detached house with pool into a 2 bed unit. My boys aged 19 and 21 have made it clear they want nothing to do with me now. All my family is overseas. I have no friends her... View more

I’m a 49 year old man. My 25 year marriage broke down. I moved out of our huge detached house with pool into a 2 bed unit. My boys aged 19 and 21 have made it clear they want nothing to do with me now. All my family is overseas. I have no friends here at all even after 16 years. And I mean none - there is nobody I can call or talk to. I have no social life at all. I miss my pets too. other than getting up and going to work I have nothing. I’m not living, I’m existing, so what’s the point? I’ve even jumped on dating sites just to try and find a connection with someone but have had zero luck. what Is the point in carrying on. I’m dreading the long weekend. It will just be 4 days sat at home on my own seeing and talking to nobody instead of 2 days which is hard enough. I feel like I’m done and nobody will miss me anyway. I’m totally lost and permanently sad.

Jessksch I am losing it: crap job, everything is going to shit...
  • replies: 5

I am just so done with everything...my job is at its worst point in the manager does not care to supply our shop and it looks empty. People keep asking if we're closing down and I just don't know...my hours have been cut too... Been looking everywher... View more

I am just so done with everything...my job is at its worst point in the manager does not care to supply our shop and it looks empty. People keep asking if we're closing down and I just don't know...my hours have been cut too... Been looking everywhere for something that is not retail. I wanted to continue my studies but can't find find a work placement... I look at things around me and it's just more corruption and nothing is getting done... Usually my psychologist would say it's not my responsibility and I personally shouldn't worry about it now since I'm not in a position to do anything about it, well, it still doesn't give me a reason to go on. I have a partner and pets but it has gotten to the point that I don't care about them anymore, I have nothing to look forward to anymore.

chociloni At The End
  • replies: 3

I'm scared to move forward. I have a dr and a psychologist, and nothing is helping. Please don't tell me to go back to my dr. No one around me seems to believe how bad I actually feel. I consider suicide all the time, I would do it but I hate pain. I... View more

I'm scared to move forward. I have a dr and a psychologist, and nothing is helping. Please don't tell me to go back to my dr. No one around me seems to believe how bad I actually feel. I consider suicide all the time, I would do it but I hate pain. I don't know how to do it. Something needs to help me. I have been staying with my parents since having to move from my flat due to community violence. My father is critical and tries to argue with me, he is undermining. I need to get out yet I don't think it's good to be alone. I've considered going to a womens shelter but that doesn't sound like the right thing. I'm scared of things like hospitals and endless drs trying different meds that dont work, I dont need alone time staying in a hospital. I just need a mentor or a friend I need to be able to recover from what is happening for me but I can't it's too painful I am worried please take me seriously I need options I NEED HELP

BlondeChick Newbie Not Coping Well
  • replies: 3

Hi y’all! I’m new here and I don’t know how this goes but someone has told me this service might help… So what’s going on? Im struggling to keep my mental health at this moment… Im having the urge to end my life right now… the plan and the things to ... View more

Hi y’all! I’m new here and I don’t know how this goes but someone has told me this service might help… So what’s going on? Im struggling to keep my mental health at this moment… Im having the urge to end my life right now… the plan and the things to use are laid out in front of me… I somehow started to write the note to my family once I’ve done it. Got all things sorted for my family to have when I’m gone.. i have very little community support which in the past was enough but I don’t know about today if it is enough… I feel lonely hopeless and worthless right now

Deathbug9976 I just feel so hopeless and i need a way to ease the pain
  • replies: 7

i have suffered with depression and anxiety for a while now, but recently they both have gotten a lot worse. i feel that i no longer have anything to look forwards and im not ready for all the pressure and responsibility that school and growing up gi... View more

i have suffered with depression and anxiety for a while now, but recently they both have gotten a lot worse. i feel that i no longer have anything to look forwards and im not ready for all the pressure and responsibility that school and growing up gives you. the stress of daily life is getting to me and now i feel that i dont really have anything to look forwards to. ive stopped trying at school, and now im just doing the bare minimum. i used to hurt myself. The emotional pain got too much for me yesterday, so i hurt myself and i just want a way to either end my pain, or put a pause on all of my responsibility. i keep finding myself thinking that it would be easier if i was never born, or if i died. although i want to die, i'm to scared to and i dont want to face the risk of failing.

ChildHeart I just can’t…
  • replies: 7

Another post and I am so sorry. There was a post I did in another section but it got moved to this section so I know it looks like I’m posting constantly. I’m sorry. I don’t know if I’m allowed to mention other services but I called the “s” call back... View more

Another post and I am so sorry. There was a post I did in another section but it got moved to this section so I know it looks like I’m posting constantly. I’m sorry. I don’t know if I’m allowed to mention other services but I called the “s” call back service this afternoon. Only a few hours after having already spoken to another crisis call centre. I am tired of feeling this way.. people offer (like here on the forums) lovely kind support and advice and I say thank you and I do mean it but I go away feeling the same. Hopeless. I just.. I can’t. I can’t anymore.

NakitaB I'm lost.
  • replies: 2

I (20F) have been struggling with mental health ever since I can remember. My earliest memories I have of my life is me feeling unworthy and depressed because my dad left my mum before I was born and so my mum blamed me for him leaving her, my older ... View more

I (20F) have been struggling with mental health ever since I can remember. My earliest memories I have of my life is me feeling unworthy and depressed because my dad left my mum before I was born and so my mum blamed me for him leaving her, my older brother and me. "He didn't want you", "he wanted me to get an abortion because he never wanted a daughter", "he never loved any of us" she would tell me, my earliest memory of this was aged 6 or 7. My father was never in my life until I was around 12, He sent me and my older brother a message on Facebook. A couple of months later he flew to Brisbane to see us both with his new girlfriend, we met at a Mcdonalds and sat and talked for a while. after that we kept in contact on Facebook for a while and he now had my phone number, so we called each other occasionally. Flash forwards a couple of years, aged 17 I lost my poppy (grandpa) he was my favorite person and I really struggled with my mental health and started therapy, I almost didn't graduate high school because of it. six months later I wound up in a psychiatric ward for a week only a month before my 18th birthday, the nurses and doctors in the psych ward didn't believe any of what I was telling them and told me "Your parents (my mum and stepdad) say there's nothing wrong with you". the Two years following that have been hell, I've been on so many different medications and overdosed on almost all of them with an intent to kill myself. I've seen many different psychologists, psychiatrists, councilors and doctors to get a diagnosis and get put on the right medication to help me but still nothing. Amongst those there are many other traumatic events that I could list but we'd be here forever. I started dating my partner (20M) almost a year and a half ago and he's been an amazing support person to me, we occasionally have fights over little things but overall he's a great support person to me. I guess what I'm saying is I feel lost, I feel depressed every single day, some days I find it so hard to get out of bed. I would love some advice on what I can do to make my situation a little easier to manage because im honestly sick and tired of trying, I am sick and tired of fighting the illness or illnesses I have. I am sick and tired of not being listened to and sick and tired of my mental health issues being swept under the rug because people find them to complex. I am linked into the mental health team at my local hospital. any advice is good