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Mental and Behavioral Health

Suicidal Feelings: How to Help Yourself

Suicidal Feelings: How to Help Yourself

Suicide is when a person takes their own life on purpose.

When a person is thinking about or planning to do something to take their own life, it may be called:

  • Having suicidal thoughts, or suicidal ideation.

  • Feeling suicidal.

It's important to know what you can do if you feel like you might hurt yourself or take your own life. One thing that can help is to make a safety plan.

How to make a safety plan

Safety plans can help you stay safe if you feel suicidal. These plans can have a list of things you can do and people who can help you. They may include:

  • Warning signs you may be in danger of hurting yourself. These signs can include:

    • Starting to feel very upset.

    • Feeling hopeless.

  • Healthy things you can do to distract yourself, such as:

    • Yoga or meditation.

    • Reading a book.

    • Spending time outside.

    • Listening to your favorite music.

  • Phone numbers or ways to contact people or places for support, such as:

    • Family and friends.

    • Your health care provider.

    • Helplines or crisis lines.

  • Ways to make your space safe. This can include getting rid of or locking up:

    • Pills.

    • Sharp items, like razors.

    • Guns.

  • Your reasons to live. These may include:

    • Your family and pets.

    • Your goals and dreams.

    • Things you like to do.

Follow these instructions at home:

Medicines

  • Take your medicines only as told.

  • Ask your provider about side effects. In some cases, feeling suicidal can be a side effect of certain medicines.

Talking to others

  • Tell the people you trust how they can support you. You may want to share your safety plan with them.

  • Talk to people you trust about how you're feeling.

  • Try to be around people who care about you every day, even if you don't feel like it.

General instructions

  • Try to stick to a routine and follow a schedule every day.

  • Get enough sleep at night.

  • Get enough exercise.

Where to find support

You can get support from:

  • Your provider.

  • A mental health expert or counselor.

  • Local or online support groups.

Where to find more information

To learn more, go to:

  • The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) at afsp.org/get-help. You can also find suicide prevention resources at afsp.org/suicide-prevention-resources.

  • My Safety Plan at mysafetyplan.org.

  • The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) at nimh.nih.gov.

    1. Click "Search" and type "suicide FAQ."

    2. Find the link you need.

  • The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) at samhsa.gov.

    1. Click "Search" and type "suicide prevention resources."

    2. Find the link you need.

Get help right away if:

  • You feel like you may hurt yourself or others.

  • You have thoughts about taking your own life.

  • You have other thoughts or feelings that worry you.

These symptoms may be an emergency. Take one of these steps right away:

  • Go to your nearest emergency room.

  • Call 911.

  • Contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (24/7, free and confidential):

  • For Veterans and their loved ones:

This information is not intended to replace advice given to you by your health care provider. Make sure you discuss any questions you have with your health care provider.

Document Revised: 10/10/2025 Document Reviewed: 10/10/2025

Elsevier Patient Education © 2025 Elsevier Inc.