Suicidal thoughts and self-harm

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Welcome to the Suicide and Self-Harm Section

replies: 0

Hi there, Welcome to the Suicide and Self-Harm section of the Beyond Blue Forums. Life gets pretty hard sometimes, and many people here on the Forums have had times where they have thought about harming themselves or ending their life. This can be a deeply distressing experience, and this section is here to support members who have had these experiences. This section is not a crisis support service. If you are in crisis or need immediate help, assistance is not available via these Forums. Please call: Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 (24/7) Lifeline on 13 11 14 (24/7) If it is an emergency, contact emergency services on 000. This is a place to share where you are at, seek ideas for support 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. 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 the 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. If after a period of time you no longer wish others to engage in the discussion you have started, please use the 'Report Post' button and request the discussion be locked to prevent any further replies. Thank you for being here, we're glad you're here. Treat yourself gently as you read through this section. Beyond Blue

by BeyondBlue •

Community Manager•

Posted in Suicidal thoughts and self-harm

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26-06-2026

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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

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I called the Suicide call back service today.

replies: 4

I am grateful for the suicide call back service. I see their number all the time but today I had the courage to call them. I have been spiralling down since last December and trying to cope alone. I hate to rely on my children. But my son didn’t answer or reply this morning, so I called someone else. A complete stranger. Someone who makes themselves available on a Sunday morning to help total strangers like me to basically stay alive for another day. My darling son did eventually reply to me and I told him that I would be ok now. I hate to burden him with this. I love and appreciate him so much. I want to stay for him and I want to see him thrive. He deserves better. I am trying to be better for him and he is keeping me going for now. I know that if I go now, this would cause him so much distress and stress. I love him so dearly. He’s the kindest sweetest person that I’ve ever known. Just pure good. People like him deserve so much more and so much better. He’s an amazing young man. I so wished that I had half the goodness and courage and compassion that he possesses. I have such a throbbing headache from crying since 8am this morning and I can’t seem to stop it. My eyes are so sore from the tears. I am going to be a wreck tomorrow for work. But I am going to struggle through this post and take it one day, one hour as it comes. That’s all I can manage at this moment. Take care beautiful people. And call someone if you feel the need

Hello darkness

replies: 13

I haven’t been on here for quite some time, not even to give others support and I apologise for that. Life has just gotten in the way. I have worked so hard on my mental health and recovery and have made a lot of progress and making connections. But the last month or so has been so full on and overwhelming with so many activities vying for my time and attention that I have gotten overwhelmed. And very tired. And once again the thoughts and planning of ending my life started to make a reappearance. I feel like I am not really doing that well at all. I feel like no one really likes me which I know is sooky but that’s what my brain keeps telling me. I feel like I am failing being back at this place again and feeling this way. Life is beautiful and terrible at the same

Surviving, but only just

replies: 3

Anyone feel like they can’t go on but don’t want to leave either? Life is tough, seems to be getting tougher and tougher. Struggling with repeated thoughts, anxiety and disrupted sleep. Hope everyone is having a beautiful clear day.

How do you break old habits with suicide

replies: 2

Hi, I will keep this as brief as I can and hopefully it will make sence.I've been diagnosed with cptsd from being through childhood truama, sexual abuse, domestic violence. Everytime ibecome i overwhelmed with painful emotions I turn to self halm or suicide.I found I was always judged my Ed staff, ambulance staff, police, It makes it hard to reach out. Once I push ( not physically) my children away I have a tendency to jump in my car and self halm. If no relieve I then tempt suicide . I'm sitting here the last 2 days with strong urges, thoughts popping up randomly.I would love for this pain to be gone for good. But then my kids would feel pain. Living in this torture is horriable. I feel scared ever thought that impulse will take over and I will act. I feel judgement from medical professionals, embarrassed, ashamed and disappointed that I can't just make it stop. I'm looking for hope and inspiration to stop this hard feeling that won't go away and not act

Scared mum of teen

replies: 30

Not sure if I am allowed here as it is not about me, but my daughter. she is 13 and has recently plummeted into a deep darkness. She had low points earlier in the year but this time is much worse. She is talking about life not being worth living and she started self harming. We are seeking professional help but I am at such a loss about how to help her. Hoping to gain some insight here. Thank you!

Ending it after an argument

replies: 4

I always have thoughts of suicide after I argue with my husband. We are both very sensitive and so arguments happen often. They escalate quickly and every time I just feel like killing myself almost like a form of revenge. To show him how lost he would be without me, what kind of life he would have without me, how he would suffer without me. The feeling is so strong with every argument that I feel like one day I will go ahead with it. What always stops me is the kids. I can't do it to them and leave them motherless. I tried therapy, meditation, creatrix, everything...but nothing has really been a long lasting help. I hate this cycle. Just wondering if others feel the same way. Thanks for listening

A six week cycle?

replies: 4

Hi I’ve been severely depressed lately. Tried to analyse myself out of it. My therapist spoke about a six week cycle for depressive episodes and whilst it provides some hope it means I still have half of the last four weeks to try and live through. W... View more

What do I do?

replies: 1

I can't handle the stress anymore my health has gone to shit again! On-top of that there is financial issues, mental health issues, etc...I don't know if I can handle it anymore. Really contemplating turning myself in, maybe another life can do it be... View more

The housing crisis in perth makes me feel suicidal

replies: 1

I feel extermely guilty for feeling like this because i've got a good job, i get payed well but the recent spike in housing prices just as i've finally saved up enough to buy a house is turning into the straw that broke the camels back. I've been depressed an anxious for a long time. there's lots of reasons i got depressed, it'd take too long to explain it all but as a general rule i've cry'd almost everyday for the last 10ish years, i've planned my suicide at least 1000 times by now, i don't have energy for hobbies or loved ones. i'm very tired. As a rule, just as life starts getting good for me, everything always falls apart. I have a partner, they make me "happy," but something still feels very wrong with my existance. I'm not really okay, i'm not really happy. The main thing that really kept me alive this long was telling myself if i work hard and save up things will be okay one day. i'll be able to afford a nice home and go on nice holidays etc. the struggle will be worth it. i finally save up enough to go on a holiday, covid hits and we can't travel. i save up enough to buy a house, prices go through the roof and i can't afford anything any more. Everyone says prices will go down so i save up and wait. but they don't come down, the supply is dwindling, the only thing left is small units hours from work and i'm just tired of it all. Whats the point of working hard if theres never a happy ending to it. whats the point of spending 12 hours of my day paying taxes to then spend the rest of it crying and stressing about the future. Everyone else seems to have bought a house at the right time, gone on holiday's at the right time, found a fun hobby but the right time never seems to come for me. it's like my existance is cursed. I was born decades too late. i'm nearly half way through my natural life and it all feels like a waste, it's just constant suffering. I was finally starting to see an upside then the housing and cost of living crisis hits and i'm just done. Am i just entitled and needs to get over themself? does anyone else feel this way too?

Suicide ideation

replies: 1

I would like to think I would never commit suicide really, I’ve got two children that are my sole responsibility but when I get really distressed like I was last night, I fantasise myself doing it and slowly drifting away and the relief and end to the pain, even how I would do it with what is in my immediate surroundings. So I guess that’s suicide ideation. The only reason I hold back is my two children that are my sole responsibility. I feel so helpless , I can’t make anything better and I also can’t escape. Recently I just feel there’s no one I can talk to anymore. I’ve been in a bad state of depression most of the last year and I’m that time I’ve drifted away from people and been socially avoidant. I also don’t get any time away from my kids and they hate spending time away from me and usually guilt trip me when I try and do anything without them. I know I need a change of meds and some more therapy but just so hard to sort out . Just feel I need to talk about it with someone before I completely lose the plot .

Welcome to the Suicide and Self-Harm Section replies: 0

Do you have a safety plan? replies: 97

I called the Suicide call back service today. replies: 4

Hello darkness replies: 13

Surviving, but only just replies: 3

How do you break old habits with suicide replies: 2

Scared mum of teen replies: 30

Ending it after an argument replies: 4

A six week cycle? replies: 4

What do I do? replies: 1

The housing crisis in perth makes me feel suicidal replies: 1

Suicide ideation replies: 1