How to tell someone you are thinking about suicide

If you have thoughts and feelings of suicide, telling someone else about it can help you connect with others and find ways to receive support.

You can reach out and talk to:

someone who knows you well

someone in your life who you trust and won’t judge

someone that works with people with similar experiences or identities

a crisis support phoneline

a professional, like a counsellor or peer/support worker

other types of support can be found here

There isn’t one way to share how you’re feeling, and sometimes it’s not a straightforward conversation. It’s okay if it’s awkward.

When you’re distressed, validation and solidarity from people around you can make you feel more connected and less alone. This is a great starting point when talking to someone about feeling suicidal.

Here are some suggestions on what you could say:

“Life has felt really difficult lately, can you also see that I’ve been struggling?”

“Everything feels heavy at the moment, can you reassure me that I’m not the only one who feels this way at times?”

“I don’t want to be alone, can you stay with me for a few hours (the day/night) or help me find other’s that can?”

“I’ve been feeling really low lately, and have struggled to find joy in things, can you help remind me of some of the positives in my life?”

Sometimes you might not know what to say – your thoughts and feelings might be jumbled up and confusing. Many things can make you feel this way, so it’s hard to know where to start.

You could say:

“I don’t know what to say, but I need to be around someone right now. Could you stay and I’ll talk when I’m ready?”

If you can, you should tell the person what sort of support you do and don’t want. You can also ask if they feel comfortable contacting services with you. You don’t have to seek further support alone.

You can find more information on how to support yourself through crisis here.