AU Students for Suicide Prevention
Spreading awareness and de-stigmatizing suicidal ideation
AU Students for Suicide Prevention
Spreading awareness and de-stigmatizing suicidal ideation

Resource inaccessibility: What to Do

Not everyone has access to mental health resources. Resources may be too hard to find, too expensive, or inaccessible in other ways. Even without access to resources such as therapy or medication, there are still steps you can take to help prevent suicidal thoughts, or help cope with suicidal thoughts when they do come.

6 Tips to Prevent Suicidal Thoughts

  1. Go outside
    • Go for a walk, do some gentle yoga, or do your favorite exercise
  2. Make time for things that give you joy
    • Try a hobby, read a book, or watch a TV show you love.
  3. Talk to someone at least once a day
    • Talk to a family member or friend. If you feel like you have no one to talk to, try calling a free crisis helpline to talk about your feelings
  4. Keep a routine
  5. Practice mindfulness or meditation
  6. Take your prescribed medication (if you have one) but try to refrain from alcohol and non-prescription drugs

Mindfulness for Beginners

Gentle Yoga

What to do if You Have Suicidal Thoughts

  1. Promise not to do anything harmful right away
    • Separate suicidal thoughts from actions. Even if you are in a lot of pain, remember that these thoughts are not usually permanent. Promise yourself to wait and put distance between your suicidal thoughts and actions.
  2. Talk to a friend, family member, or find a crisis helpline.
    • Finding someone to talk to will remind you that you are not alone. People would miss you if you died.
  3. Create a safe space to go to.
    • Get rid of anything that could be harmful to you such as razor blades, lethal drugs, etc. If you get rid of these things, find another place to go where you will be safe from harm.
  4. Remember: feeling suicidal does not make you a bad person.

How to Talk to Someone About Feeling Suicidal

It can be difficult to approach a family member or friend about your suicidal thoughts. Here are some tips for how to approach conversations about your suicidal thoughts.

  1. Be specific.
    • The more specifically you can communicate your suicidal thoughts, the more the other person will be able to understand and help you 
  2. Plan what you want to say ahead of time.
    • If you feel nervous or anxious about talking to someone about your suicidal thoughts, it can be helpful to plan out what you say ahead of time. This way, you will not have to scramble to find the right words to communicate your feelings.
  3. If you cannot talk to anyone in person, write it down.
    • Sometimes it is just too difficult and scary to talk to someone face-to-face about a serious and personal topic like suicide. If that’s the case, try letting someone know through text, email, or voice message.
  4. Ask for support.
    • Ask the person you are talking to for help with accessing resources or creating a plan to prevent suicidal thoughts in the future.

References:

Beyond Blue Ltd. (2020). Talking to Someone About Your Suicidal Feelings. Beyond Blue. https://www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts/suicide-prevention/feeling-suicidal/talking-to-someone-about-your-suicidal-feelings.

Robinson, L., Jaffe, J., & Segal, J. (2020, September). Are You Feeling Suicidal? HelpGuide.org. https://www.helpguide.org/articles/suicide-prevention/are-you-feeling-suicidal.htm.

YouTube. (2019). Easy Morning Yoga Flow | For Beginners! (15 min ). YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dbx9yttmtAU.

YouTube. (2020). 10-Minute Meditation For Beginners. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9YKY7fdwyg&feature=emb_imp_woyt.