Suicidal Feelings and Thoughts

It’s really tough when someone feels hopeless or thinks life isn’t worth living. This can sometimes happen to young people who are dealing with deep sadness or depression.

What Can Lead to Suicidal Thoughts?

Suicidal feelings might build up over time or come from specific situations. They can be triggered by things like:

• Mental health issues: Struggling with anxiety or depression.
• Abuse: Experiencing or witnessing abuse.
• Bullying: Being bullied or bullying others, especially if there’s a history of victimisation.
• Complex grief: Dealing with intense and complicated loss.
• Low self-worth: Feeling like you don’t matter or are worthless.
• Family problems: Living in a difficult home environment, like with parental disputes or neglect.

Worried About Someone?

If you’re concerned about someone who might be at risk, it’s important to act quickly. Contact your designated safeguarding lead right away. They will reach out to the child or young person’s parents or carers and involve other services if needed. If the risk seems immediate, make sure they get to their GP or A&E quickly.

For more help and information, check out our find services page or our urgent help page.

Spotting the Signs

A young person dealing with suicidal thoughts might not always speak up. Look out for signs such as:

• Ongoing sadness or depression: Persistent low mood.
• Talk of death: Frequently talking about death or dying.
• Self-harming: Hurting themselves intentionally.
• Loss of interest: No longer caring about daily activities or school.
• Sleep and eating problems: Difficulty sleeping or eating normally.
• Feelings of hopelessness: Feeling like things will never get better.

Dealing with the Suicide of a Loved One

Losing someone you care about is always hard, but when it’s through suicide, it can bring up a lot of mixed feelings. You might feel not only sadness and loss but also guilt, shame, or even blame yourself. This is normal, even if it feels overwhelming.

When someone close to you dies by suicide, it can change how you see things. You might notice that your emotions are more intense or confusing than usual, or that it’s harder to remember things and focus. You might also find that your behaviour changes, like withdrawing from friends or activities you used to enjoy.

What You Might Experience:

• Confusing Feelings: You might feel a mix of emotions, including guilt, sadness, or anger. It’s important to know that these feelings are okay and part of the grieving process.
• Trouble Coping: You might find it harder to deal with everyday things, like schoolwork or socialising. This can be because of the impact of the trauma on your mood and energy levels.
• Changes in Behaviour: It’s common to see changes in how you act or respond to things. You might feel more withdrawn or find it hard to connect with others.

Getting Help: If you or someone you know is struggling with these feelings, it’s important to reach out for support. There are services available to help you navigate through this tough time:

• Find Services – Here, you can find various resources and support options that can help.
• Urgent Help – If you need immediate assistance, this page provides information on getting urgent help.

Remember, it’s okay to ask for help, and there are people who want to support you through this.