Suicide is the act of intentionally taking your own life. Suicidal feelings can affect anyone of any age, gender or background, at any time.

If you are at immediate risk or harm, call 999 and ask for an ambulance.

If you are struggling with your feelings, have suicidal thoughts or need help with someone, you can:

• call Samaritans free on 116 123 or visit the Samaritans
• call Papyrus for on 0800 0684 141 9am to midnight or email pat@papyrus-uk.org
• call the NHS on 111
• visit how to cope with suicidal thoughts
• visit Hub of Hope to find local mental health and wellbeing services
• read more from NHS help with suicidal thoughts

Resources for young people:

• Somerset big tent empowering children and young people to find the right wellbeing support at the right time
• CAMHS services for young people aged 0–18 years old who are struggling with their mental health
• call Childline 0800 11 11 9am to midnight. Support for children and young people under 19 years old
• text YM to 85258. Young Minds provides free, 24/7 text support for young people across the UK experiencing a mental health crisis
• try Emerging Minds resources for young people
• Young Somerset supporting wellbeing for young people
• Kooth online mental wellbeing community
• Visit MindEd for families

If you feel unable to cope with your situation, speak to your GP.

If a child or young person tells you they want to kill them self you should:

1. Take what they said seriously - don’t ignore it as attention seeking, they are trying to communicate something to you.
2. Make time and space to listen and talk about what they have said - be clear that they cannot keep things that are dangerous a secret.
3. Express curiosity - find out what it’s about and why they feel this way.
4. Is the problem within your scope to help with? – or is there someone else who can help?
5. Does the problem require support from a professional?
6. Make a judgement on their lethal intent – do they need urgent help?
7. Communicate to others - including professionals so they can support you and understand if your child happens to mention it to them. Mindline Somerset are available 24/7 on 01823 276892
8. Make a plan – for the next hour or day, with steps you can take to make your child safe. Include in this plan revisiting how they feel in the furture.

There are things you can do to help you cope with suicidal thoughts:

• Just try to get through today rather than focusing on the future
• Talk about how you are feeling with someone you trust or an emotional support helpline
• Contact a health professional such as your GP, or the Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) if you are already under CMHT
• Mindline Somerset are available 24/7 on 01823 276892
• Try to do activities you enjoy which take your mind off what you are thinking
• If you are in real danger of taking your own life call emergency services on 999 or go to Accident and Emergency (A&E)
• visit how to cope with suicidal thoughts

You may feel suicidal if you are struggling with low mood, anxiety or poor self-esteem, along with self-harming behaviour. You may have been experiencing feelings that make you panic, feel hopeless, stressed, worthless or question your purpose, and you may have been feeling this way for some time.

Talk to a trusted person if you:

• have trouble concentrating or thinking clearly
• are struggling with depression
• your friends are worried about you 
• talk or think about feeling hopeless or having no purpose
• talk or think about wanting things to switch off or to escape life
• talk or think about being a burden to others
• have increased your use of alcohol or drugs
• are feeling reckless or agitate
• want to be left alone or have become secretive

Things that are likely to cause or worsen suicidal thoughts include:

• Family history of suicide
• Family conflict
• Some form of trauma
• Relationship breakup
• Adjusting to a big change in life, such as, economic loss of income in the family or moving to a new home
• Unsecure housing or homelessness
• Money problems
• Feeling inadequate or fear of failure
• Addiction or substance abuse
• Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT)
• Young carer
• Children looked after/child in care