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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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Eagle Ray Suicidality and perimenopause
  • replies: 150

Has anyone else experienced severe suicidality in relation to perimenopause? Did anything particular help? There is apparently a strong association for some women. I had a major drop in oestrogen a year ago resulting in severe anxiety/depression/suic... View more

Has anyone else experienced severe suicidality in relation to perimenopause? Did anything particular help? There is apparently a strong association for some women. I had a major drop in oestrogen a year ago resulting in severe anxiety/depression/suicidal ideation then. It’s re-occurring now. I have complicating factors of c-ptsd and complicated grief. Saturday was the anniversary of my mother’s sudden and distressing death. I was extremely bad on Friday and early Saturday. I’ve been calling helplines and had some practical help. It helps regulate me for a few hours then I start to disintegrate again. It’s a feeling of totally failing apart. I do have a psych appointment on Thursday and I’ve booked a counselling appointment with the Australian menopause society as well. HRT may help but I have to look at how it will interact with my liver disease which can be a complicating factor. It’s a rare disease and not well understood or even known about by most medical practitioners. I just feel totally overwhelmed.

Roadsend Maybe help should come in a different approach
  • replies: 12

61 years and I'm still here but what is the point, its not going to improve, I feel certain 61 years of this mongrel depression has proved that and I'm so tired of it, tired of everything that goes with it, like the guilt that you just want to be dea... View more

61 years and I'm still here but what is the point, its not going to improve, I feel certain 61 years of this mongrel depression has proved that and I'm so tired of it, tired of everything that goes with it, like the guilt that you just want to be dead but everyone telling you " no you don't, just hang in there, reach out, there is help if you just reach out" for many that may be true, but for so many of us reaching out has been a nightmare that only made a bad situation worse, for many of us it is just going to be an endless painful struggle till at last our numbers up, so how does it make sense to "just hold on" what would make more sense is legalize assisted suicide, so us hopeless cases could leave this world in a humane painless, no fuss or mess way, not for those who can be got past a rocky patch and will come good but those of us that will never be free from Depression it would really help. It would be great to have a legal team as part of it to help get your affairs in order so as not to leave a mess for loved ones when they least can cope with all the rig mer roll that comes with death. I know a lot of people will think this is horrid as they feel life is precious and what I would give to feel that way, I did once when 1 med worked for years, life was great and i wish I could get that back but the medication stopped working and 45 ECT's, countless combinations of medications, therapy, TMS and positive thinking has done nothing to bring it back. Depression really really sucks and I'm really really tired of fighting an unwinnable battle

One_More_Day Help
  • replies: 2

I'm about to lose my house, I haven't been able to work for three years because of an unidentified breakdown of skin on my hands and severe depression and possible undiagnosed schizophrenia/personality disorder, psychosocial maladaption, my gp won't ... View more

I'm about to lose my house, I haven't been able to work for three years because of an unidentified breakdown of skin on my hands and severe depression and possible undiagnosed schizophrenia/personality disorder, psychosocial maladaption, my gp won't support my tpd claim with GESB, my superannuation and I think my sons would be better off eithout me, at least I can leave them my home. I have no family, friends or social contacts for years now. My mother is a narcissistic megalomaniac who is violent, aggressive, abusive and coercively controlling, if I could sue her I would. All four of her children are unemployable, without relationships and in poverty, all on disability payments while she ponces around like royalty, deluded, in her stable home she battered her now deceased third husband into giving her. In a few weeks I will have money from the sale of my home and nowhere to go - itinerant. Accessing my tpd insurance and early super would change that but the "system" is watching me fall through the cracks and thinking nothing of it, only after will they lookback. I am living proof - a red flag - ignored. Bias, presumption and judgement have clouded my gp's decision making, the specialists are no different and there is no mental health support out there at all. This is the system broken. Only when it's too late, someone might consider what else could have been done. With all this right in front of their eyes, as clear as the nose on their face, only when it's over might they reconsider their poor decisions. Too late. Learn now! I have been using medicinal drugs and it's made things worse - a big step backward for its efficacy, not to mention the social stigma and isolation. I have not left my home nor seen anyone for years now, sleeping on my couch, temporary, on the way out, with a biological family revelling in the drama and my demise. Can you sue parents? My mother's gp has carved her up but never treated her twisted, abusive, controlling, perverted and angry nature, well hidden in short consultations. Despite contacts with services and waiting lists for assessment, I am just one person of millions. I have lost everything and see a future of more loneliness and suffering. I convince myself selling my home and starting again is better than ending it. An itinerant. What's the difference.

Guest_9959 Nervous breakdown
  • replies: 7

I'm not really sure what to post here, in 2017 I went through a Divorce and my little girl was moved 400 kms away from me to a regional town. I tried to kill myself, failing I sold off everything owned including my house, paid out my ex wife and move... View more

I'm not really sure what to post here, in 2017 I went through a Divorce and my little girl was moved 400 kms away from me to a regional town. I tried to kill myself, failing I sold off everything owned including my house, paid out my ex wife and moved to be closer to her my daughter so I could see her more. I've since moved again to a tiny somewhat remote town and work a job i dont like. We have been in a custody battle for 4 years which has taken all of our savings and I haven't seemed to be able to get a win. I'm tired, broken and out of energy. I feel like a burden on my wife and I find no joy in getting out of bed, in fact I no longer want to get out of bed

Guest_66089868 I’m struggling with mental health but don’t have severe trauma
  • replies: 1

I’ve been diagnosed with ADHD, anxiety and depression, but I’m really struggling. I try to talk to peers about it but I most in similar situations have some huge trauma they went through in their life, but my childhood and everything was fairly norma... View more

I’ve been diagnosed with ADHD, anxiety and depression, but I’m really struggling. I try to talk to peers about it but I most in similar situations have some huge trauma they went through in their life, but my childhood and everything was fairly normal. I don’t know why I’m struggling and it feels like I’m overreacting or doing it to myself. Maybe I am, idk. I just don’t understand why I feel the way I do as most seem to have some kind of clear trauma that lead them to feel the way they do, I don’t mean to sound self absorbed as I understand that trauma like they go through must be absolutely horrific and I sympathise a lot. But I feel like I’m drowning but I don’t know how to swim.

Tiedinknots It is time to go now
  • replies: 1

I lived too long. It is all too hard. I can't do this any more. I tried so hard to makenit work. To reach out of my old ways and try to find a place for love and compassion. To stop pulling back but I am just pushing those I care about away and hurti... View more

I lived too long. It is all too hard. I can't do this any more. I tried so hard to makenit work. To reach out of my old ways and try to find a place for love and compassion. To stop pulling back but I am just pushing those I care about away and hurting everyone I love by being alive. I wanted to engage the vast love in my heart, the thing I have hidden all my life to stop it being used to hurt me. But pain is all there is. The irony, that which I believed would make be be able to live again is killing me. The old pain is back. I am an embarrassment, a failure, a reject, I have lost myself and there is no way back. Just to surrender to the mission. I need toncomplete the job. I was afoot to believe it could be otherwise. O allowed myself the belief that I could have life again that it might just be an option. But no. I was so stupid to believe anyone could care, anyone was there for me. My wife hates me my friends and not real. They don't care. My mission was to holdnit all together to get my Child to adulthood and then I could be gone from the world, but I allowed myself to believe that there was another option. There is not. I want to die now. But I have to do my jobs Take care of the dog, run around for a wife that hasn't given a shit about me for 20 years

Sal2645 How to support my friend
  • replies: 2

My friend attempted suicide about a month ago, he is thankfully ok and I have seen and spoke to him numerous times since. At the time I was obviously very distraught and I don’t know that I acted in the most helpful manner. I texted him saying that I... View more

My friend attempted suicide about a month ago, he is thankfully ok and I have seen and spoke to him numerous times since. At the time I was obviously very distraught and I don’t know that I acted in the most helpful manner. I texted him saying that I’m here if he wants someone to listen and talk to but also if he wants space or anything. He has spoken to me in the past about things and again I’ve seen him since and everything. I just don’t know how to navigate the situation and how to properly be there for him. Like he’s told me he’s doing better and seems to be looking forward to things but also idk whether he just doesn’t want to actually tell me. It’s really scary because when he did it I didn’t see it coming, like I had talked to him that day and he seemed normal so it’s difficult to know. It just so hard not to think I’m not doing enough and that I didn’t do enough before. I want to be able to support him in anyway he feels comfortable with and I’ve told him that but idk. So I need advice on what to do because I really don’t know and I’m scared I’m not doing enough to be there for him, but like idk he might not even want my help.

HERE_TO_HELP2 Your going to be okay
  • replies: 2

Hey guys. I am 13 and I have heard about so many people who are going through anxiety, depression and the thought of suicide. I just want you to know your going to be ok. People love you. You may not think so but you will be.

Hey guys. I am 13 and I have heard about so many people who are going through anxiety, depression and the thought of suicide. I just want you to know your going to be ok. People love you. You may not think so but you will be.