Suicide support

Support for those feeling suicidal

This section provides general advice on how to support someone who is suicidal: this may be you or someone close to you. Some useful telephone numbers are provided at the bottom of the page

General advice

If you are going through a difficult time or are worried about someone else, don’t go through it alone ... TALK

Tell someone what you are thinking and how you are feeling

Ask for their help or seek help

Listen to their advice or seek advice from others

Know who to call in a crisis and keep the number with you at all times

If you are concerned your child may be feeling suicidal, the following advice may help:

• Notice when they seem upset, withdrawn or irritable
• Encourage them to talk about their worries, listen to them and help them find their own solutions
• Keep all medicines locked away, including painkillers such as paracetamol
• Suggest your child talks to their GP or a Counsellor about how they feel

Where to go for help

Below are some useful helpline numbers and websites where support is available.

Samaritans 
Tel:  116 123
Text: 07725 90 90 90
Email: jo@samaritans.org
Website: www.samaritans.org

There are also Samaritans branches in West Sussex: 

Papyrus: a service for young people at risk of suicide
Tel: 0800 068 41 41
Text: 07786 209697
Email: pat@papyrus-uk.org
Website: www.papyrus-uk.org

Bereavement support
Help is at Hand - a resource for people bereaved by suicide

Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM): a service for Young Men
Tel: 0800 58 58 58
Website: www.thecalmzone.net

Childline
Tel: 0800 1111
Website: www.childline.org.uk

Dealing with suicidal feelings
Rethink mental illness factsheet

Mind
Tel: 0300 123393
Website: www.mind.org.uk/

SANE
Tel: 0845 767 8000
Website: www.sane.org.uk

Stay alive app

The Stay Alive app, produced by Sussex Partnership NHS Trust in conjunction with Grassroots Suicide Prevention, is a pocket suicide prevention resource, full of information to help you stay safe. it might be useful if you are having thoughts of suicide or if you are concerned about someone else who may be considering suicide.The app includes a safety plan, customisable reasons for living and a life box where you can store photos that are important to you.