Suicide

In an emergency situation phone 000 anywhere in Australia for help! 

Sometimes living in today's society can become very painful and problems can seem overwhelming. Many people think about suicide at some point but do not plan or act on it.  However, for others the thought of suicide might begin to seem like a real alternative to a hopeless situation or a situation that appears to have no solution.

Situations that might contribute to a feeling of hopelessness include:

• Relationship break-ups
• Family problems
• Sexual, physical or mental abuse
• Drug, alcohol or gambling problems
• Mental illness, including schizophrenia, bipolar and depression
• Major loss and grief such as a death
• School, uni or work problems
• Unemployment or financial debt
• Feeling like you don't belong anywhere
• Any ongoing problem that you can't see a solution for

Everyone goes through tough times and experiences problems that seem unshakable. If you are feeling suicidal or want to end your life, it's important that you keep yourself safe. It is possible to get through these times by creating your own 'tool kit' of coping strategies, which you can use when you're feeling desperate or when your situation is hopeless. Some suggestions include:  

Postpone any decision to end your life: While it may feel like you have to act now, try to postpone that decision. 

Tell someone:  Although it may seem hard, and might be a bigger challenge than taking steps to end your life, it's important to reach out to others who might be able help you. If you are having difficulty speaking about what you're going through, you might start with sentences such as 'Right now, I'm feeling...', 'I think it started when...', 'I've been feeling this for...', 'My sleep has been...', 'Lately school/work/uni has been...'.

Ring a crisis line: If you feel you are having difficulty relating to people you know, phone a crisis line and someone will be able to talk to you about your feelings and what you are experiencing at the moment. 

What are the signs?

• Ending/settling of affairs (e.g. closing accounts, giving others large sums of money, giving away loved possessions, or selling the house)
• Hints that the person won't be around for much longer or statements like "I'm going on a really long trip"
• Previous attempts at suicide
• Inappropriately saying goodbye
• Self harming behaviour
• Statement of suicidal feelings
• Reckless behaviour (e.g. increased promiscuity, drug taking or binge drinking)
• Death or terminal illness of loved one
• Sudden broken relationships

What are the causes?

In many cases, suicidality is difficult to predict. Immense dissatisfaction with current life situation alongside perceived inability to cope with life are predisposing factors for suicide.

How is suicidality treated?

The underlying mental disorder must be assessed and counselling is a must for all people who attempt or talk about suicide. Therapy will aims to reduce intense suffering, assist in expanding individuals narrow views of options for coping and assist with tolerating distress in life.

Sources of information: Reach Out! 

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