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Suicidal thoughts and self-harm

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Sophie_M Do you have a safety plan?
  • replies: 96

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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RainbowCaterpillar Mood swings
  • replies: 1

Hi everyone, I've been going through severe mood swings for years now. I get enraged, depressed and distressed so damn easily. Everywhere I look I see 'a way out'. When the urges to die hit I just end up self-harming. Now I'm covered in scars again. ... View more

Hi everyone, I've been going through severe mood swings for years now. I get enraged, depressed and distressed so damn easily. Everywhere I look I see 'a way out'. When the urges to die hit I just end up self-harming. Now I'm covered in scars again. My family don't accept me as a transgender man. I can't stand to live in this body anymore. I have no plans but the thoughts are so loud.

Matilda99 Don't want anything in life
  • replies: 3

I'm 24 and have finished my university degree which i forced myself to do out of fear of not having a career in the future. Now that I'm finished I'm really struggling to find a purpose in my life. I don't want to do anything. Nothing interest me. Ev... View more

I'm 24 and have finished my university degree which i forced myself to do out of fear of not having a career in the future. Now that I'm finished I'm really struggling to find a purpose in my life. I don't want to do anything. Nothing interest me. Every job i apply for, if i get an interview i choose to not go as i no longer want the job, feel incompetent or i just feel sad and hate myself so much that i think as soon as they meet me they will automatically decide that I'm not good enough. My parents look out for jobs in my degree area but I usually lie to them that i applied for that job and was unsuccessful rather than telling them the truth that i didn't apply. My parents have pressured me to get a casual job for the time being because they don't want me sitting alone at home not earning money. I have applied for a casual job and about to start training but i don't want it. A part of me not wanting a job is that i get extreme performance anxiety and have social anxiety that i think i'm not able to cope. I don't really know why I'm writing this I just get thoughts that the only way around this is that i need to end my life. I constantly day dream about death/suicide. I am safe and do not plan anything I'm just struggling with these thoughts.

marc25 My life
  • replies: 4

I’m so sad, lonely and feels giving up. Why this keep happening to me? I don’t have friends and I don’t have nothing. Please anyone explain why I have such a terrible life.

I’m so sad, lonely and feels giving up. Why this keep happening to me? I don’t have friends and I don’t have nothing. Please anyone explain why I have such a terrible life.

Rose2021 Someone made me feel sad and very suicidal
  • replies: 3

Hi, someone on Tuesday at my day program made me very sad and very suicidal because of what they said. That is what they said someone asked me to get off my phone because I shouldn't be using it while it is charging. While I was at my day program. Th... View more

Hi, someone on Tuesday at my day program made me very sad and very suicidal because of what they said. That is what they said someone asked me to get off my phone because I shouldn't be using it while it is charging. While I was at my day program. The person is a young male.

Ovait Chronically Suicidal & no trust in Psychs
  • replies: 13

Hi, so I’ve been diagnosed with MDD, PTSD & chronically suicidal for the past 6 years. I have attempted a number of times l. I know I need help but I’ve been through hell at the hands of a particular public psych ward over a number of inpatient stays... View more

Hi, so I’ve been diagnosed with MDD, PTSD & chronically suicidal for the past 6 years. I have attempted a number of times l. I know I need help but I’ve been through hell at the hands of a particular public psych ward over a number of inpatient stays which has completely eroded my trust in the psychiatric profession. I did have a private psychologist who was the only one I trusted but unfortunately he has become ill & has had to stop working. He knew I have a plan & means etc but never forced me to give anything up. It’s my safety net. I’ve finally found a new psychologist (after 6 months) who is talking about us having to have “trust” in each other & a safety plan. That plan will involve going to the hospital that has traumatised me. How can I have trust in a person I don’t know & who has links to the hospital that has traumatised me? I can’t give up my plan - that’s my “get out of jail card”. He won’t treat me unless I agree to a safety plan which I don’t want to do.

honeheke BPD suffer with chronic Depression and Carer
  • replies: 2

Hello i am sick to DEATH of wanting death not just wanting death but doing it with a smile on my face as im my mothers carer. I want to change i want to try and live i just dont know how to get help. I really want help but i dont know what to do abou... View more

Hello i am sick to DEATH of wanting death not just wanting death but doing it with a smile on my face as im my mothers carer. I want to change i want to try and live i just dont know how to get help. I really want help but i dont know what to do about it do i check in somewhere i dont know how to start

Micheleb Can't go on any more
  • replies: 2

I'm 66, diagnosed with adhd 6 years, I was going quite well until 3 years ago. The pandemic and thyroid disease spun me into ptsd. I'm over the struggle, my family hate me and my dear long term friends have their own problems and lives. I can't kill ... View more

I'm 66, diagnosed with adhd 6 years, I was going quite well until 3 years ago. The pandemic and thyroid disease spun me into ptsd. I'm over the struggle, my family hate me and my dear long term friends have their own problems and lives. I can't kill myself because I would end up in hell but my life HERE is hell. Can ANYONE relate ?Thank you

lulu222 Living for my parents
  • replies: 2

Hey, I moved to aus from Europe in September 22 because I was depressed and thought upping and leaving would help me feel happy. And it hasn’t and the only reason I’m still alive is that the fact my parents would have to spend money they don’t have t... View more

Hey, I moved to aus from Europe in September 22 because I was depressed and thought upping and leaving would help me feel happy. And it hasn’t and the only reason I’m still alive is that the fact my parents would have to spend money they don’t have to get me taken back to my home country and I can’t leave them with that burden. But I’m scared that when when I do go home I will. I’m sick of life there is nothing worth living for you work to survive you work untill your old and frail and what you’ve just wasted your life on things that aren’t important. Everything is just so dumb and I hate it I hate everything I feel like I’ve lived enough and my time to go is here but there’s nothing I can do about that because then I’m selfish. I Don’t want to live in a constant state of emptiness and spacing out for the most part I’m not even here mentally but I wish it was physical. I don’t know what’s wrong with me no one knows I feel like this because what are they going to say yeah I feel sad too okay yeah tell me about that. But no I don’t feel sad I feel nothing o wish I felt something I really do. Sorry for the rant I just don’t know what to do

KellKell07 Not coping
  • replies: 4

I’m 50 yrs old and currently suffering badly with depression. I am on medication, and it was increased a few weeks ago but I don’t think it’s making a difference. I feel a ball of anxiety in my chest all the time, I hear a voice in my head reminding ... View more

I’m 50 yrs old and currently suffering badly with depression. I am on medication, and it was increased a few weeks ago but I don’t think it’s making a difference. I feel a ball of anxiety in my chest all the time, I hear a voice in my head reminding me how worthless I am. I can’t talk to my family as they don’t really understand it. I don’t have anyone else to talk too, maybe some work friends but no one close. I feel that I don’t need to be here anymore - I’m tired, so very sad, lonely and depressed - I don’t think I can fight it much longer. I am safe tonight I think but it’s like an urge to end it as I feel everyone will be better off anyway. I don’t know what to do