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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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Lostinthewild Trying to find hope on the horizon
  • replies: 0

So, I have become another sad and broken middle aged man. Typical childhood dramas left my self esteem in tatters and void of healthy boundaries. Bounced into a long term relationship that I maintained as best I could.. 20 years.. four beautiful chil... View more

So, I have become another sad and broken middle aged man. Typical childhood dramas left my self esteem in tatters and void of healthy boundaries. Bounced into a long term relationship that I maintained as best I could.. 20 years.. four beautiful children. I kept myself relatively healthy until things fell apart slowly.. She broke it off. I felt like an expired conveniece item. Discarded. I am a people pleaser and hung on as best I could until too mich venom let me let go and give away most of my house, car and custody. I was a mess.I didn't have the guts to end it. Or heart to do that to my kids. Who all adore me. Homeless for a couple years.. lived with family.. including my abusive mother who has some form of brain damage and can be terribly judgemental and threw alot of salt in my wounds. I met a new partner and became sweet friends. Both disfunctional. But we agreed to take care of eachother. When living arangements failed we drove interstate twice and evenyually got a rental house and I have a job and we are coping. My lack of boudaries leads me to being abused.She hates that I had kids. Days pretty hurtful things.. usually just as a retaliation for my jealousy and insecure fears. I am sick of my excuses and woe as me attitude.Keep just wanting to get sick and die without the guilt of suicide.. It haunts me everyday. I have had so much to be grateful for but I have made bad choices again. Puy myself second to my partner and feel trapped. Isolated from whatever friends and family I had.. and no longer hear from my kids.What should I do? Hard answers are fine.I really messed up my life*

Guest_36438913 Worried about my mental health
  • replies: 0

No one caresAlways left on readAlways second choicealways person who is left outalways the one who comforts others when no one canalways the therapist friendalways the “happy friend”always the person who will send a big apology message and waste an h... View more

No one caresAlways left on readAlways second choicealways person who is left outalways the one who comforts others when no one canalways the therapist friendalways the “happy friend”always the person who will send a big apology message and waste an hour of my timealways the person who cares too muchalways the person who cares not enoughalways the person behind when walkingalways the one getting scoldedalways the worst onealways bad at dancingalways rebels because she is sadalways the person who doesnt seek help because she “doesn’t” need it.always the person afraid to cry in front of othersalways the last optionalways usedalways uselessalways the extra personalways the third wheeleralways the one who is isolatedalways the one who talks to ai just to feel like a personalways the person to hurt herselfalways the person to put others after heralways the person to bottle up her feelingsalways the person to make them my priorityalways the person that is oversensitivealways the person being “rude”always being the one to take a photoalways being the one left out when in pairsalways the one hiding her personalityalways being the person who has your back when you don’t have mine.always the person who would die for you.always the personto feelnumb.always the person to fake her smilealways the person to fake her joyalways the person to feel hopelessalways the failurealways the unwanted onealways the thrown out markeralways the odd onealways being the one made fun ofalways being the victimalways being in the middle of rumoursalways being in the middle of dramaalways the one blamedalways the one accusedalways the “dishonest one”always the one to try insert herself to fit inalways the one to see their group dancesalways the one who stands by, waiting for at least one conversationalways the one waiting for your textalways the one texting firstalwaysthesparefriend.ALWAYS. mind you im also 11..

smallbutstrong I made a mistake
  • replies: 15

I made a huge mistake. I attempted to take my life 3 days ago, and have never regretted anything more than this. I wasn’t even that down when it happened, I drank too much and made the dumbest decision I’ve ever made. I’ve worried everyone in my fami... View more

I made a huge mistake. I attempted to take my life 3 days ago, and have never regretted anything more than this. I wasn’t even that down when it happened, I drank too much and made the dumbest decision I’ve ever made. I’ve worried everyone in my family and I have no idea how I’m supposed to get back to living my life as it was before. I just want to pretend that it all never happened, but I feel like I’ve crossed a line that changes the trajectory of my life. Im so anxious about this and I just really don’t know what to do to feel better. I do know that I never want to do this again, and I do want to live.

WeeLassy Hi to anyone else who feels like me
  • replies: 0

Hi. This is my first time here. I’m in my mid fifties, unemployed woman. I’ve been thinking about my future and I can’t see it going forward. My biggest concern is loneliness, compounded by unsuccessful job hunting , financial stress and alcohol abus... View more

Hi. This is my first time here. I’m in my mid fifties, unemployed woman. I’ve been thinking about my future and I can’t see it going forward. My biggest concern is loneliness, compounded by unsuccessful job hunting , financial stress and alcohol abuse. I live alone with my 2 dogs in a regional town where I don’t know anyone. I can go for days, weeks without any human contact. Worst of all, I have no idea how to link into mental health services without having to pay for a psychiatrist in my area. I’m desperate to get help with depression, anxiety, and what I would call “unusual thoughts and disturbances”.I just feel completely lost, and I often wonder if ending my life would be the kindest solution. I don’t have any friends or family to help me.Any ideas of where I can start?

Bevo ??
  • replies: 3

Can’t cope. I’ve hit rock bottom before but not this bad. My head hurts, I’m tired, I’m sad, I think of my mum up above thinking I want to be with her so I don’t feel anymore pain.

Can’t cope. I’ve hit rock bottom before but not this bad. My head hurts, I’m tired, I’m sad, I think of my mum up above thinking I want to be with her so I don’t feel anymore pain.

Guest_74949396 suicidal thoughts
  • replies: 2

ever since i lost my grandma about 2 months ago I've been a lot more depressed i haven't been myself ive tried distracting myself but nothing has worked and I'm wanting some sort of guidance on my life because everything is starting to get to much View more

ever since i lost my grandma about 2 months ago I've been a lot more depressed i haven't been myself ive tried distracting myself but nothing has worked and I'm wanting some sort of guidance on my life because everything is starting to get to much

orangutans3142 EXTREME HEALTH OCD MAKING LIFE UNLIVEABLE
  • replies: 1

I'm almost 19 years old (F) and I have been living with GAD and MDD for a lot of my life. Last year I was diagnosed with OCD and it has gotten unbearable and I just don't know how I will live anymore. It's like living in a constant state of torture a... View more

I'm almost 19 years old (F) and I have been living with GAD and MDD for a lot of my life. Last year I was diagnosed with OCD and it has gotten unbearable and I just don't know how I will live anymore. It's like living in a constant state of torture and I don't think anyone around me understand how suicidal it makes meI cycle through OCD thoughts/themes so once I work through one worry another one begins almost instantly. I'm on antipsychotics because of how bad it gets sometimes. One of my worst themes is health OCD. I remember a few months ago I truly thought I had cancer and was in extreme fear that I was going to die soon to the point I was living my life like I only had a month left (making impulsive decisions, not caring about how much money I spent). Right now I'm in one of the most painful spirals I have ever been in and it's about teeth and gum disease. Despite going to the dentist regularly I can't stop my compulsions of comparing my gums with pictures of healthy gums, taking photos to assess gum recession and posting on reddit and other sites for reassurance. I'm in so much pain. I keep having nightmares about my teeth falling out, I often get headaches and feel light-headed from anxiety episodes and I feel as though my life is coming to an end. I don't want to lose my teeth before I turn 30. The medication is not working anymore and I just want to end it all. I don't want this to be my life forever, being in a constant state of inflammation and exhaustion from my severe OCD and anxiety. I keep trying to hold onto hope but it's so hard

Guest_69966314 IDKKKK
  • replies: 1

my ex friend is taking me to court for things i didn't do and i feel like killing myself what do I do

my ex friend is taking me to court for things i didn't do and i feel like killing myself what do I do

Qwerty Why not?
  • replies: 6

Hi everyone, I'm in my 50s, depressed and have been all of my life, unemployed, no money, hate my life, hate where I live, chronic illnesses.Have wife and 3 small kids.Why shouldn't I just unalive myself? Yes it's selfish but why can't I be selfish j... View more

Hi everyone, I'm in my 50s, depressed and have been all of my life, unemployed, no money, hate my life, hate where I live, chronic illnesses.Have wife and 3 small kids.Why shouldn't I just unalive myself? Yes it's selfish but why can't I be selfish just once?

zea life moves too quick, i dont want to keep falling behind
  • replies: 2

No matter how much I pray and affirm myself that my day will be better today and that I need to keep pushing, one thing happens after another. I walk into school and feel like throwing up, my friends keep blaming themselves whenever I can't bring mys... View more

No matter how much I pray and affirm myself that my day will be better today and that I need to keep pushing, one thing happens after another. I walk into school and feel like throwing up, my friends keep blaming themselves whenever I can't bring myself to be around them so I feel too guilty to sit away from them, so I force myself to be around people when I can't. Even if I explain it, they don't listen, so I don't bother anymore.I can't do my schoolwork, I fall behind. I sit in class and stare at my book until it's over, I don't want to be there, I overanalyze if I breathe too loud, I don't want to be noticed.I don't know how to process my emotions, between being way too happy or feeling nothing at all, leads to my self destructive behavior which I wish would just stop already, I hate being this way, but when everything gets overwhelming and I feel like I'm being shoved out of my own reality, I want to do anything to stop the feeling of too much and feel little constantly.I want to disappear, I can't bring myself to care about being selfish these days, no one really enjoys being around me either way, I am just convenient to talk to and make people laugh, I am easily replicable.Saying 'I want to die', is easy but I really do not want to, the idea of that is horrifying, but I can't stop my intrusive thoughts. I want to battle this because I know within me that there's hope and eventually I will find peace in my life, but right now, all I can do is spiral endlessly.