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

Guest_74949396 suicidal thoughts
  • replies: 1

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

Guest_78529838 Am I crazy? Or is it just the people
  • replies: 1

I can see and hear people I’m suicidal but do I tell anyone no. I want to feel safe in my own head but will that happen not really don’t want to open up. It’s scary but yk it’s ok I’ll always put myself and mh last I first need people around me to be... View more

I can see and hear people I’m suicidal but do I tell anyone no. I want to feel safe in my own head but will that happen not really don’t want to open up. It’s scary but yk it’s ok I’ll always put myself and mh last I first need people around me to be okay first and I’m trying that but not rlly working

Qwerty Why not?
  • replies: 5

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?

Scared It here again
  • replies: 72

My depression is severe todayAdded to this is the loss of my girlfriendShe was my sole purpose in my lifeNow im back to suicide researchas I really dont want to live anymoreI have nothing to look forward to in this life and I feel too old to start ov... View more

My depression is severe todayAdded to this is the loss of my girlfriendShe was my sole purpose in my lifeNow im back to suicide researchas I really dont want to live anymoreI have nothing to look forward to in this life and I feel too old to start over again.Death would be a welcome giftI know there is no purpose in suffering all the time and its madness to do soLast time I tried to end it I got so close to doing itI always felt it was upsetting I didnt succeed and today I regret trying to get better because there is no getting better.If people could understand what its like living like this then maybe they would understand me better.I try to be grateful for the last 8 years I had with girlfriend and the purpose it gave me but it doesnt stop the added grief ontop of my depression.The cavalry are not coming to save me and thats whats changed for me.I cant keep living for the sake of others wanting me to live.

ImaMommy "Hangover" after Suicidal Thoughts
  • replies: 3

I have recently been feeling really deep, sad and suicidal thoughts. Thoughts, I had never experienced before. I feel like I have managed to feel more like myself after a week of crying however I feel like my tolerance for nonsense has lessened. Not ... View more

I have recently been feeling really deep, sad and suicidal thoughts. Thoughts, I had never experienced before. I feel like I have managed to feel more like myself after a week of crying however I feel like my tolerance for nonsense has lessened. Not in a negative way so much but I miss being nonchalant and focused on the positive. I feel like I have been traumatised by my thoughts. I am safe today and have wonderful support. Just wondering if anyone else has experienced something similar? With love Thank you

Guest_88424249 I am losing my battle to my mental health
  • replies: 2

I am losing the battle to my mental health in silence. Today I was at the back of the bus feeling so, so incredibly empty, my depression drowning me. Tears poured down my face in silence as I begged one of the strangers in front of me to turn back an... View more

I am losing the battle to my mental health in silence. Today I was at the back of the bus feeling so, so incredibly empty, my depression drowning me. Tears poured down my face in silence as I begged one of the strangers in front of me to turn back and ask if I was okay. I am part of the mental health crisis. No one in my life cares. Not my family. I don't have any friends. I am all alone. Truly. No one ever checks up on me. I am just another random saved contact on people's phones. I don't matter to anyone. I just want to go to Europe, lay in a field of flowers, and never wake up. I want to disappear. The pain to stop. Ive never truly been ok. I cry almost everyday. Ive struggled with major depression and anxiety since 13 years old. My existence is just carrying this mental illness, suffering, and trying to make it through not even the next day, or hour, but next minute. Ive not been happy for a very long time. I have not felt myself for a very long time. I dont even know what the aforementioned means - feeling like yourself. The moment you're born you're expected to want to live. To want to have goals. To want to make yourself something in this world. What about the outliers? What about those who naturally don't? What about those like me who truly wish on a star they were never born in the first place? I sadly had no choice in my existence and here I am to carry the burden of myself. I understand and do not blame people who end their lives honestly. I blame and chastise society and those who never check up on them then when they hear the news say hypocritically, "Oh if only they had reached out to me I would have stopped what I was doing to help them." Well here I am writing this. Never written on a forum. I cant deal with this anymore. I cant do this. I am slipping away each second. These are my honest thoughts.

_foxxed Mental health condition vs abuse?
  • replies: 1

Trigger warning** Wasn't really expecting much. Just so unsure about whats real and what isnt. I am 40 and have been diagnosed with adhd early 30's and bpd a few years ago after my son was born. Now its looking more like cptsd and autism is going to ... View more

Trigger warning** Wasn't really expecting much. Just so unsure about whats real and what isnt. I am 40 and have been diagnosed with adhd early 30's and bpd a few years ago after my son was born. Now its looking more like cptsd and autism is going to be a diagnosis. I dont have a psychiatrist atm as bpd scares them all off, I I have my first appointment with a new one soon with the same place I see my psychologist weekly. Where I struggle is. Ever since my son was born, my wife and her family put me down about anything I did. It took 6 months before I reached out for help thinking I was going insane. And then the cmht told the police I hated my son and I got an avo taken out against me. It was later dropped in court. But ever since then. My family, her family have done everything humanely possible to make me look like I am a problem and its my mental health etc. I have done dbt & cbt. I have a psychiatric assistance dog. I was taking my meds as prescribed. And yeah I did self harm and hurt myself intentionally alot. I have been in icu once and er multiple times. A psych ward doesn't help me and do get extremely distressed in there. I got told that sui is manipulative adter I woke up on life support by a cmht manager cause I complained about their actions forced me to take that action on myself. I got read the story of the boy who cries wolf from cmht. Told if I didnt drink monster that I wouldnt experience what i called abuse. My mum made herself my next of kin, they proceeded to tell her I wasnt trying. Thing is. I done my best. I havent seen my son since jan. I dont get to say anything or see him. I am scared of her, so I shut up. My parents finance everything for her. I feel worthless. He is 4, I have gone at least twice not seeing him for 6+ months cause I am scared she will do anything to ensure I kill myself. I look back and check the facts and I really never did anything wrong, I tried to be a good dad and make good decisions. I was just told I was wrong and would get isolated for saying anything. It continues now. I get labelled as crazy and they get to keep up this silent treatment. Ignore anything I say. And according to the law they are doing everything ok. I found myself once again on the sanctioned site learning where I went wrong all these past attempts. I dont wanna fk it up, I dont wanna die. But saying I have to live for my son I don't see. whilst being gaslit by everyone and watching them get validated for hurting me. I dont know where to turn

eliz_a2998 It’s hopeless
  • replies: 3

I am 17 years old doing my VCE online. I have posted once before about the pressures of VCE and my anxiety. In April, due to the stress of VCE at my main stream school and a medication that made me worse I got diagnosed with major depressive disorder... View more

I am 17 years old doing my VCE online. I have posted once before about the pressures of VCE and my anxiety. In April, due to the stress of VCE at my main stream school and a medication that made me worse I got diagnosed with major depressive disorder and anxiety which led to an attempt and an admission. That was a few months ago since then it was has gotten a little better.. But now, I can’t do this anymore. I thought I was just getting better I was going on walks, eating, and even going out with friends. Everything was so great. I had this important event for my friend and I found out people from my old school were going to be there I was so excited and the day off I just felt ugly and so ashamed of the person I have become. I didn’t go and I shut everyone out I deleted all my social media I ghosted everyone who reached out. I don’t know what happened I am so embarrassed. Now I’m sleeping constantly staying in bed I have no appetite I don’t shower or go out. I was just getting better I don’t understand why this has happened I can’t do this anymore. Everything feels hopeless now. I had so much hope I really thought it was getting better. It feels like it won’t ever get better.

imsohungry thoughts
  • replies: 2

im 14 and ive been dealing with a lot of suicidal thoughts. i didnt grow up with great parents and even the people who are taking care of my right now arent that helpful i get bullied at school for and sometimes i jsut wanna end it all i once attempt... View more

im 14 and ive been dealing with a lot of suicidal thoughts. i didnt grow up with great parents and even the people who are taking care of my right now arent that helpful i get bullied at school for and sometimes i jsut wanna end it all i once attempted suicide my mother put me up on social media as a missing person and my whole school saw and i had like 8 meltdowns but no one cared and everyone made fun of me. it got so bad that i ended up in hospital 2x and even after that the bullying got worse and atp i dont even know what to do bc right now my whole life is messed up and im so tired and absolutely no one understands me and sometimes i self harm to relieve my stress but absolutely nothing helps at all the things is i escaped one thing which was trauma from my parents bc they abused me but now i have more problems to deal with idk how to cope with it .

Beaser Tired of fighting this battle.
  • replies: 203

I hope im ok to post as ive posted so often on other forums but im feeling very desperate lately. Im just so tired of fighting. I left a job i was in for many years last year. I have since had some part time work that didnt work out. Im lonely and go... View more

I hope im ok to post as ive posted so often on other forums but im feeling very desperate lately. Im just so tired of fighting. I left a job i was in for many years last year. I have since had some part time work that didnt work out. Im lonely and going broke. I was desperate and called triple o last week only to be left to my own devices again. I may be going into a facility called parc a non acute inpatient service but that thought scares me. I dont know how much more i can endure. I hope every one is well and thank you for reading Brett