Suicidal thoughts are intense and can be overwhelming. If you’re struggling with thoughts of ending your life, please know that you’re not alone and there is support available. It’s important to understand that experiencing suicidal feelings doesn’t mean you are weak or flawed; it means you’re facing more pain than you currently feel able to cope with.
Call us now for free on 116 123
How Talking Can Help When You Feel Like You Want to Die
Talking about suicidal thoughts can feel daunting, but it’s a crucial first step towards finding help. Professionals trained in suicide prevention are equipped to listen without judgment and provide support when you need it most. Here’s how talking can be beneficial:
- Immediate Crisis Support: When you are in a moment of intense despair or feel on the edge, talking to someone can help you navigate through that immediate crisis. It provides a lifeline in moments when you feel most alone.
- Understanding Your Feelings: Suicidal thoughts can be confusing and stem from various underlying issues. Talking helps you unravel these complex emotions and make sense of what you’re going through. It’s like having a guide to help you understand your own emotional landscape.
- Identifying Paths to Further Support: Sometimes, you might need more than just someone to talk to in the moment. Talking to a support service can help identify if you need additional help, such as therapy, medical intervention, or other forms of support tailored to your situation. They can guide you towards resources you might not be aware of.
They are there when all your friends are asleep and you are alone in the world, full of thoughts.
Samaritans Caller
Recognizing Suicidal Feelings: Am I Suicidal?
It’s essential to recognize the signs of suicidal thoughts and feelings in yourself or someone you know. Suicidal ideation manifests in many ways. You might be suicidal if you experience some of the following:
- Feeling Certain About Wanting to Die: This is a direct and explicit desire for death. It’s more than just fleeting thoughts; it’s a conviction that death is the only answer.
- Desperate for an Escape: You might feel trapped in a nightmare situation and desperately seek a solution, but can only see death as the only escape route from unbearable pain or circumstances.
- Reckless Behavior and Indifference to Life: A lack of care for your own life, indicated by taking increased risks or living recklessly, as if your life has no value or future. This is a sign that the survival instinct is diminished by suicidal feelings.
- Passive Suicidal Ideation: This involves not actively planning suicide but welcoming death if it were to occur. You might see death as a release or a way to regain control in a life that feels unmanageable.
- Feeling Powerless and Confused: Not understanding why you’re having suicidal thoughts or feelings, and feeling completely lost about what to do. This confusion and lack of control can amplify distress.
If any of these feelings resonate with you, it’s important to reach out for help. Talking about these feelings is a sign of strength, not weakness.
Will Talking to Someone Stop Me From Killing Myself?
Support services like Samaritans aim to offer a safe space where you can explore your feelings and thoughts. The hope is that by talking, you can gain a new perspective on your situation and find alternative solutions to suicide.
It’s important to know that these services respect your autonomy. For adults who are not considered at risk due to specific vulnerabilities, they recognize your right to make your own decisions about your life. However, they will continue to offer support and talk to you, even if you have taken steps to end your life. Their priority is to provide support and explore options, not to impose decisions.
Confidentiality: Will They Tell Someone If I’m Suicidal?
Confidentiality is a primary concern for many people considering reaching out for help. For most people, these services are confidential. This means they will not disclose your conversation to anyone, or even reveal that you contacted them, without your explicit consent. Building trust is essential, and confidentiality is a cornerstone of that trust.
However, there are specific and important exceptions to confidentiality. Emergency services will not be contacted unless:
- You Ask Them To Call for You: If you want emergency services involved but are unable to call yourself, they will act on your direct request.
- Loss of Coherence After Providing Location: If you have already shared your address, location, or phone number and then become incoherent or unconscious during the call, they may need to call for help to ensure your safety.
- Immediate Danger in Their Branch: If you are in one of their physical branches and harm yourself in a way that poses an immediate danger, intervention to ensure safety becomes necessary.
- Child or Adult at Risk: If you are identified as a child or an adult at risk of harm from others, safeguarding policies necessitate breaking confidentiality to ensure protection.
- Legal Reasons: In rare situations, legal obligations might override confidentiality. These are specific, legally defined circumstances.
It’s recommended to review the service’s safeguarding policy for full details on confidentiality and its exceptions, to fully understand when and why confidentiality might be breached.
You can read more about these exemptions in our safeguarding policy.
Alternative Ways to Seek Help Besides Phone Calls
Recognizing that not everyone is comfortable talking on the phone, there are multiple ways to contact support services. Options include face-to-face meetings, written communication, and email. Each method has its benefits and considerations, allowing you to choose the way you feel most able to communicate your feelings.
Immediate Phone Support: 116 123
For immediate, one-on-one support, calling is a direct option. It’s free and available 24/7, providing instant access to someone who can listen and help, regardless of the time of day or night.
Benefits:
- Free of charge
- Direct, one-to-one conversation
- Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Consider calling if:
- You need to talk to someone urgently.
- You prefer verbal communication.
Maybe not the best option if:
- You have poor phone signal.
- You prefer to process your thoughts in writing first.
- You are looking for specific advice rather than emotional support.
Call any time, day or night 116 123
116 123 Call us any time, day or night
Find out more about phone support
Face-to-Face Support
For those who prefer in-person interaction, visiting a branch offers a safe, face-to-face meeting. Branches are located across the UK and ROI, providing a space to talk in person.
Benefits:
- Direct, face-to-face interaction
- Safe and supportive environment within a branch
- Branches available across the UK and ROI
Consider visiting a branch if:
- You prefer face-to-face conversations.
- You feel more comfortable in a physical support environment.
Maybe not the best option if:
- You need urgent support immediately.
- You require support outside of branch opening hours.
- You prefer to remain anonymous.
Visit us in person at a branch
Find out more about branch visits
Express Yourself Through Writing
Writing letters allows you to articulate your thoughts and feelings at your own pace. It provides time for reflection and can be helpful in understanding complex emotions.
Benefits:
- Free service
- Allows time to compose your thoughts carefully
- Provides time to reflect between exchanges
Consider writing a letter if:
- You prefer written communication.
- You find it easier to express yourself in writing.
- You want time to reflect on your thoughts and feelings.
Maybe not the best option if:
- You need urgent support.
- You do not have a fixed address for replies.
- Posting letters is difficult for you.
Write to us:
Freepost SAMARITANS LETTERS
Write to us: Freepost SAMARITANS LETTERS
Find out more about writing letters
Digital Written Support
Email support offers a digital method of written communication. It allows you to detail your thoughts and feelings and receive a thoughtful response, although response times are longer than phone or in-person options.
Benefits:
- Allows time to carefully compose your thoughts
- No pressure to respond immediately
- Opportunity to work through issues over time
Consider email if:
- You prefer digital communication.
- You are comfortable with delayed responses.
- You want to articulate complex issues in writing.
Maybe not the best option if:
- You need urgent support.
- You prefer real-time interaction.
- You want consistent support from the same person.
[Email Us](mailto:[email protected])
Response time: Please note that it may take several days to receive a response via email.
[Email Us](mailto:[email protected]) Response time: It may take several days to get a response by email
Find out more about email support
Support in Welsh
For those who prefer to communicate in Welsh, dedicated Welsh language services are available, including a phone line and letter writing service.
Welsh Language Phone Line: 0808 164 0123
0808 164 0123 Call now for Welsh language support
Find out more about Welsh language support
