If you are not safe right now
If you are in immediate danger, or you might act on thoughts of harming yourself, contact your local emergency number now.
Call your local emergency number — 999, 112, 911 or your national number.
Crisis support
Getting help now
Serious illness, caregiving and grief all raise the risk of crisis. Whatever is happening, it is not a weakness and it is not permanent.
What to do
If you are in danger right now
- 1Call your local emergency number, or go to your nearest emergency department.
- 2Tell someone in the room with you, in plain words: 'I am not safe right now.'
- 3Ask someone to stay with you until help arrives.
- 4Hand over medication, keys or anything you might use, to another person.
- 5Do not use alcohol or drugs — they make impulsive acts far more likely.
If you are worried about someone else
- 1Ask directly: 'Are you thinking about ending your life?' Asking does not plant the idea; it reduces risk.
- 2Listen without arguing, minimising or rushing to fix.
- 3Do not promise to keep it secret. Say you care too much to keep this to yourself.
- 4Help them remove means, and stay with them or arrange for someone to.
- 5Contact their doctor, crisis team or emergency services the same day.
If a caregiver is at breaking point
- 1Say it out loud to a professional today — GP, care team, crisis line, social worker.
- 2Ask for emergency respite. It exists, and this is what it is for.
- 3Separate yourself from the caring task for a few hours; ask anyone available.
- 4If you have hurt or fear you may hurt the person you care for, tell the care team — they can protect both of you.
Warning signs
Act today
- Thinking about ending your life, or making a plan
- Looking for means — hoarding medication, seeking a weapon
- Saying goodbye, giving away possessions, sorting affairs suddenly
- Feeling trapped, with no way out, or that others would be better off without you
- Sudden calm after a period of deep despair
- Thoughts of harming the person you care for
Something is building
- Withdrawing from everyone, including people you normally trust
- Sleeping far more or far less than usual for over a week
- Drinking or using substances noticeably more
- Reckless behaviour — driving, spending, physical risk
- Rage or agitation that is out of character
- Feeling nothing at all, for days
- Stopping treatment or medication without telling anyone
Helplines
Numbers vary by country and change over time — findahelpline.com lists over 100 countries.
Anywhere
Your local emergency number
999 / 112 / 911 / your national number
For immediate danger to life. Use this first if someone is at risk right now.
Anywhere
Find a Helpline (international directory)
findahelpline.com
Free, confidential helplines listed by country, in over 100 countries.
United Kingdom & Ireland
Samaritans
116 123 (free, 24/7)
Any distress, not only suicidal thoughts. Also jo@samaritans.org.
United States
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Call or text 988
24/7 crisis support, including for caregivers and grief.
Canada
9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline
Call or text 988
24/7, English and French.
Australia
Lifeline
13 11 14
24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention.
Kenya
Befrienders Kenya
+254 722 178 177
Emotional support and suicide prevention.
Nigeria
Nigeria Suicide Prevention Initiative
+234 806 210 6493
Counselling and crisis support.
South Africa
SADAG
0800 567 567
South African Depression and Anxiety Group helpline.
India
Tele-MANAS
14416
National 24/7 mental health support line.
Your safety plan
Written when you are well, read when you are not
A safety plan is written when you are well, and read when you are not. It stays on this device — print it or write it out and keep a copy where you will find it.
Thoughts, feelings, situations or behaviours that tell me a crisis may be building.
Distraction and self-soothing that has worked before — not solutions, just ways through the next hour.
Who or where can take my mind off it, even without discussing the crisis.
The people I will actually say the words to. Names and numbers.
Crisis line, GP, care team, out-of-hours number, emergency department.
What I will remove or hand to someone else, and who will hold it for me.
What I want to be here for. Read this first, before anything else.