Suicidal thoughts can feel overwhelming and isolating when faced alone. But you don’t need to go through this difficult time by yourself.

There are compassionate, trusted people ready to listen and stand by your side – whether it’s a friend, family member, or mentor. Simply vocalising the struggle and opening up to someone can lighten the burden, even if they don’t have all the answers. Just giving voice to these intense feelings and having a listening ear can be a crucial first step.

The isolation of suicidal thoughts often compounds the suffering. But bringing your inner shadows into the light, where they can be met with understanding from people who care, can help ease the darkness. You may feel alone in this battle – but support is out there. Reaching out your hand to someone safe can start the journey to hope.

Getting through challenges often starts small – ensuring safety, finding calming activities, or reaching out to someone who will listen with empathy. From there, the light of hope can slowly return.

The path is not always smooth, but with community, compassion, and open communication, we can support one another. Each personal story can inspire hope in someone else. Together, we can create a more understanding world.

In 2021, there were 6,319 deaths registered in Great Britain where the cause was recorded as suicide [1].

A helpline for mental health is a safe space where you can talk freely and feel understood. Remember, at SOS, we’re here for you, ready to listen and support you with kindness and empathy. You deserve to be heard, and we’re here to ensure that you are.

We urge anyone struggling with suicidal thoughts to contact our team for help.

The Signs of Suicidal Thoughts

Suicidal thoughts can arise from feelings of hopelessness, isolation, and despair. Factors like economic hardship, loneliness, and stigma around mental health issues can contribute.

It’s important to recognise these thoughts as a call for help rather than a personal flaw. They often link to treatable conditions like depression or anxiety. By addressing the underlying issues with compassion, we can provide the needed support.

Warning signs vary but may include changes in sleep, a loss of interest in life’s joys, or withdrawing from family and friends.

Cultural attitudes can impact how people reveal or conceal inner turmoil. For example, the notion of “manning up” has long discouraged openness, especially among men, about mental health struggles.

We feel grateful that our mindsets are shifting. More people understand now that true strength means acknowledging vulnerability. We remain dedicated to further changing narratives around wellness – for men, women, and people of all backgrounds.

Outdated stigma has kept many, particularly men, from seeking the needed care and support during difficult times of suicidal thoughts.

By constantly nurturing understanding and compassion within our communities, we make it safer for anyone to vocalise pain so they can start healing.

Approximately 74% of suicides were males, with a rate of 16.0 deaths per 100,000, while the female rate was 5.5 deaths per 100,000. [2]

At SOS Silence of Suicide, we believe in creating a culture where expressing emotions and vulnerability is seen as a strength, not a weakness. Together, we can make a change in our future society’s attitude towards mental health.

Please, talk to someone.

I Think My Friend is Struggling With Suicidal Thoughts…

When someone you care for is struggling, your support can make a real difference. Approach them with gentleness – be there to listen, not to fix or judge. Let them know it’s okay to not feel okay.

Encourage them to open up at their own pace. Sensitively suggest speaking to a professional, and offer to accompany them if it helps.

Being present for one another during hard times can provide real comfort. A listening ear, an act of patience, or a reassuring word lets the other know they aren’t alone in their pain. It also gives hope that brighter days lie ahead.

If a friend might be facing difficulties, lead with care and understanding. Make space for their story without demanding they share it before it is ready. Help can’t be forced upon another; progress comes one step at a time.

Judgement shuts people down. Compassion opens them up. With enough empathy and courage, we can be lights for each other during the darkest of nights.

To speak to someone, reach out to our suicide helpline. To speak to someone directly at SOS, call our free number today, 0808 115 1505.

How Long Will I Feel Like I Have Suicidal Thoughts?

The length of difficult feelings differs for each person. Many things can impact the personal journey.

What matters most is remembering that the present state is not forever. With compassionate support and care, people can overcome distressing thoughts and find renewal.

The path is seldom smooth, but no one needs to walk alone. There is always hope, even when it’s hard to see right now.

What Does It Feel Like to Have Suicidal Thoughts?

When immersed in darkness, it can feel like there is no light ahead. Intense despair can make everything else fade away. You may feel alone, misunderstood, and weighed down by anguish.

But it’s vital to know – this painful state is not the whole picture. There is still hope ahead. Many care deeply and want to help you rediscover your inner light.

Every life, including yours, has an innate value. Difficult feelings exist in the present but do not dictate the future. With compassionate support, tomorrow can unfold brighter than today.

By approaching one another with empathy, not judgement, we can help each other through tunnels into the open sky. Make space for struggle, provide kind reassurance, and take small steps forward together. The light exists in each soul; sometimes we need support to see it again.

Don’t go through this alone – start the conversation today.

Immediate Actions You Can Take

When suicidal thoughts become overwhelming, taking immediate, small steps can help manage these intense feelings.

Ensure your immediate safety by staying in a secure and comfortable place. If you have a safety plan, now is the time to follow it.

Engaging in calming activities like deep breathing, listening to soothing music, or being in nature can also help.

Reaching out to someone you trust or calling our helpline can provide immediate support and understanding.

Remember, you’re not alone, and at SOS, we’re here to help you through these tough moments. To speak to one of our volunteers, call our freephone 0808 115 1505.

Reaching Out for Help

Asking for assistance during difficult times requires courage and marks an important move towards renewal. We know opening up can feel immensely hard.

Yet sharing feelings with trusted friends, family, or professionals remains key in the healing process. Each time we voice struggles, we chip away at stigma and isolation.

At SOS, support staff are available to listen with care. Remember – getting help shows resilience, not weakness. We’re here to walk beside you on this path, no matter where it leads.

With enough understanding and compassion, we can build a society where no one suffers alone. Where empathy replaces judgement, community replaces darkness, and speaking up is met with listening ears ready to understand.

Between 2010 and 2020, 73% of people who died by suicide in the UK were not in contact with mental health services. [3]

Your Story Matters to Us

Every story of struggle and survival can inspire and provide hope to others. In the UK, sharing personal experiences with mental health challenges helps to break down barriers and strive towards a positive change.

We encourage you to share your journey, knowing that your voice can be a powerful tool in helping others feel less alone and more understood.

Let’s Break the Silence of Suicide Together

Positive change begins when souls connect. Where each personal story is honoured as the unique journey it is. And where reaching out for support is recognised as courageous, not weak.

With care, patience, and understanding, we can create a future filled with hope – one supportive community at a time.

Get Help Today.

Sources

[1] – House of Commons Library, 2022
[2] –Office for National Statistics, 2022
[3] – University of Manchester, 2023:5