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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Depression at 26 weeks pregnant

replies: 2

Hi,I am currently 26 weeks pregnant with my third child. I have 2 wonderful boys, a mostly supportive husband but I can't shake the feeling of depression. I've had bouts of severe depression and I am on medication but something is off. I am dreading everything... each day it's difficult to do the simplest tasks. My husband thinks I am not trying hard enough. I need help, I have suicidal thoughts. Not sure where to go from here.

Online issues

replies: 2

Hello everyone, i know it's been a while since I've been on here I've had a lot of problems online recently, and feeling really depressed lately. It started when my friend I've known since i was 15 (I'm 19 now) blocked me suddenly without a word. It really broke me because i was in love with him and when i finally confessed my feelings, he agreed to them and everything was fine Or so i thought. He never messaged me after that day so when i went to check up i found out he had blocked me. I panicked, was it because I'm trans? Was it the distance? I tried everything to get him back, messaging, re friending him but he wasn't accepting friend requests. I blamed myself for it and broke down in years because i enjoyed hanging out with him, we were close and i ruined everything by confessing.. After a few days though, i went to headspace to seek more help, i went to my first session but that didn't go so well, i felt very out of place so i left. I also tried kids helpline, but i felt like I had waited for so long i didn't even want to talk about my problems anymore so i gave up.. So here I am, I'm back to beyond blue for help once again. i just need something to make me feel better, I'm lying to my friends, saying that I'm okay because i don't want to bother them. They have their own issues too If someone could help me, i would really appreciate it. - N

I'm lost in this life, it's beyond understanding.

replies: 6

I am new here and just wanted to say hello...please help. I looked into ordinary chat rooms, but find the most sensible conversation comes from troubled folks who contemplate more than the superficial and the nonsensical. My life has reached a cross-road and I don't know where to turn. I have truly tried everything and have come to accept there is no answer for me. I live completely isolated, not by choice but because of life-long experiences, necessity and circumstances. I have no family–I think we are all an irreconcilable embarrassment to each other–or friends, who were ever only users and abusers. Relationships only last a short time, and I can't keep trying. There's no point. I don't fit in, have never fitted in, and my family of birth has the same affliction; but while they have dropped their standards in order to try to fit in with everyone but never achieving it, they have lost their self-respect and their true selves. I am trying to maintain my true self to represent my family. I think of it as my responsibility and I wouldn't be happy doing otherwise. I would love to work through this with a skilled psychiatrist, but I had one and he betrayed me in a way that remains life-threatening. I tried two others since, twice each, and they thought my situation humourous. I have no trust in therapists. Trust is earned and I see no reason for it when I see what is being termed 'treatment'. I am a dead woman walking and fight the urge to end my misery in recurring waves, daily. It is hell. That is what my detractors want.I am doing an online course that gives me a great deal of fulfillment, but socially, I have never found my 'fit'. I never will and I just don't know what to do. No-one can fix this for me. I have to find my own way, but there is none and I just don't know what to do.

I'm scared I'm going to kill myself

replies: 4

Hey all, hope you're doing well I am afraid that I'm going to kill myself. I have had this suicide plan for almost half a year. There are many reasons, such as depression and anxiety for years, possible ADHD, dysfunctional relationships with friends, or friendships that seem to be going downhill, an emotionally abusive ex-girlfriend who turned a whole school against me, and failing grades that made me drop out, to try and pursue my ATAR next year as a year 13. I haven't got my license because I wanted to focus studying, so that another thing I'm behind all my friends in. I have felt lost, alone, depressed, and suicidal for months now, and have made a plan to get away from it all. It's not an attention thing, as I'm apprehensive about even writing to this forum in case people found out, and I also hate pain, pretty adverse to it, so self-harm is hard for me to commit to, even when I feel it would help. I just don't know what to do, and am reaching out to random strangers as a final attempt. Thank you for your time

i’m not okay

replies: 1

i didn't want to do anything bad to myself last night but i did. it was like i lost control and couldn’t stop, it hurts a lot today and i’m genuinely so tired of doing this, i want to stop and i’m trying my absolute hardest to do so but i’m not sure if i can. i mean i know i can but i lose control like someone else takes control of what i do and then it hurts me. i need to stay clean for 21 days before i’m trusted again so i’m gonna start using helplines like this to vent to and hopefully it’ll be a good thing for me. i never want to hurt myself, it doesn’t help anyone and i disappointed my caregiver who has been here for me since i left home and i really just want a long hug from someone i think i deserve one. i am a very happy person usually but sometimes it all gets too much. things get to me easily i’ll admit but i’m working on getting better cause i want to live a life i’ll love, not one where i am sad and hurting myself, no one deserves to feel bad and i think that reaching out is really important. i have a lot of love for people and i hate that people hurt the way i do and worse.

Scared to tell my GP about self-harm

replies: 5

Hello,I’m currently going through the family law system. My son’s father has been out of his life for many years now but his paternal grandmother has taken me to court. This is my second time going back as I am seeking to have the orders changed due to the abuse I have suffered from that family. I had my son when I was very young and he is almost an adolescent now. I feel I cannot escape the abuse I suffered from his paternal family and am being re-triggered by past trauma and do not feel free to live my life how I choose. It feels like being in an emotional prison where I cannot escape the cycle of abuse. I have been a great mother to him and there’s never been any question about my ability to raise, love and care for him. Even though his father is not involved, I am still being bullied, spoken down to, lied about and slandered by the paternal grandmother and the court is telling me I have to continue to send my son there even though I am concerned he is being exposed to the same abuse I was as a child in that home due to what he has told me. It is extremely psychologically damaging to feel as though you can’t protect your child and your rights as a mother are being stripped from you. I am so exhausted and my mental health is at an all time low. I’m missing work, I can’t complete my studies, my relationship with my partner is strained. I’m so anxious I feel like I can barely leave the house and I am starting to feel without hope. I don’t know how to talk to my doctor about self-harm and the thoughts of suicide. I don’t want to die but I feel like I cannot escape and I am at the end of my rope. I’m scared it will hurt my family law matter to be honest about my mental state and I’m scared they will force me to go to hospital and my ability to parent will be in question. I cannot afford a psychologist and I don’t know what to do. Any advice would be very welcomed. Thank you.

Struggling to understand.

replies: 1

I have only being seeing my psych for about 8 sessions.I end up in tears in most.She believes I’m suffering from trauma from my childhood.I do agree just struggle to accept it.when I was a teenager I started shand I managed to stop.since I’ve started seeing my psych I’ve started again. All the memories and pain is flooding back.I use my self harm to cope.she said she found it strange that I was using painful self harm to deal with my emotional pain.I told her it feels like a different pain kinda good.im glad I managed to tell her but now she knows im also a little uncomfortable with her knowing.

New school and mental health 😫

replies: 2

I moved three months ago to a new school. Just a Lill back story a year ago I wasnt going to school till late next month I hadnt been to school for a year or so cause of bullying and my mental health was detiriating rapidly. I was homeless for a while in a mobile home then when the address got put on file police dcj and everyone started turning up every day multiple times a day . I started to get really upset cause I didn't want to go to another school and they kept pushing and my mental health started getting worse again . They didn't know that I was suicidal cause of it but I started having bad panic attacks every time they came. Fast Forward to October 4th I woke up and before annyone turned up I decided to try and end my life dad took me to the hospital and he warned them the whole time I wasn't doing well but nobody listened till I ended up in hospital. About two weeks after they managed to get me to go to school and what I was under the knowledge that I'd be going part time silly me they made me go everyday burnt me out so I started wagging school. Fast forward to this year I was going to the school not Verry often then got lectured about my attendance and I broke down Infront of the welfare teacher she didn't care cause she just sent me back to class . Now I'm at another school and they are starting to ask questions as to why I'm still wearing jumpers and trackies and I just say I'm comfy in them but it's getting hotter and I'm not doing well cause I'm now waging at my new school and I've been told if I don't stop I'll be on a suspension warning and I'm not 100% sure but I think they know what happened last year the thing is I've come a long way but it just feels like everyone wants to care once you are in pecies and when your not they don't care I don't want to talk about my problems to the school cause then they will start treating me differently and they already are saying to me oh are you going to leave school next year and it's sorta upsetting cause I want to complete school but I don't cause I'm just not getting annything done . And I can't help but remember this comment that was said oh you can't just go to wellbeing and sit there cause you don't wanna go to class you have to actually have a problem and most of the time I have multiple but it's just in my head that no one cares unless something has already happened then it's too late

Lifeless

replies: 4

I’m a 39yrs male. And feeling extremely low. With the end of life thoughts. I wish my head space was stronger. I tried to write a letter to myself on why I should be living. I could only muster one line. I feel like a burden to my tiny amount of friends. With my sad and bad energy. Today I was considering ending my life, escape the unhappiness I’m carrying. I wouldn't leave anyone upset they just have a happier life in place. Which I’m trying to do for myself. im feeling really tired, brain fog with no plan or purpose. quitting life has crossed my mind, but if I can manage to find a job that can support me maybe that can open up new doors. To a happier life My family is not a source of support. They make it worse for me. I don’t want to be another statistic. I’ve called beyond blue twice with really lovely people on the end of the phone. Full of kindness and care. i am doing my best holding myself together.

I can't do it, I give up!

replies: 2

Everything is so hard, I've lost so much and dealing with so much also in regards to mental health... Today I feel I'm at my wit's end, the stress and drama is too much, I give up! I'm not made for this world, I don't need to be in it! This isn't me ... View more

Do you have a safety plan? replies: 97

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

Depression at 26 weeks pregnant replies: 2

Online issues replies: 2

I'm lost in this life, it's beyond understanding. replies: 6

I'm scared I'm going to kill myself replies: 4

i’m not okay replies: 1

Scared to tell my GP about self-harm replies: 5

Struggling to understand. replies: 1

New school and mental health 😫 replies: 2

Lifeless replies: 4

I can't do it, I give up! replies: 2