If You’re Feeling Suicidal: Helping Yourself Right Now – Mind
You might be feeling so upset, angry and in pain that you believe these feelings will never end. But it’s important to remember that they cannot and will not last. Like all feelings, these ones will pass.
There are steps you can take right now to stop yourself from acting on your suicidal thoughts. Everyone is different, so it’s about finding what works best for you.
These are some practical tips that other people have found helpful when they’ve felt suicidal.
Get Safe Right Now
Get through the next five minutes
Taking things minute by minute can help make things more bearable. Reward yourself each time five minutes have passed.
Remove anything you could use to harm yourself
Remove any items you could use to harm yourself, or ask someone else to do it for you. If you’re in an unsafe location, move somewhere safer.
Follow your safety or crisis plan
If you have a safety plan or crisis plan in place, follow it. These are useful tools to guide you when you’re feeling unwell.
Tell someone how you’re feeling
Whether it’s a friend, family member or even a pet, expressing how you’re feeling can help you feel less alone and more in control.
“When it got really bad and the temptation to harm myself was really bad, I would get my family to hide dangerous things away and go to bed.”
Distract Yourself
Try self-harm coping techniques
If you’re thinking of harming yourself, try these:
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Hold an ice cube in your hand until it melts and focus on the cold.
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Tear something into hundreds of pieces.
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Take a very cold shower or bath.
See Mind’s page of tips for coping with self-harm for more ideas.
Focus on your senses
Think about what you can smell, taste, touch, hear, and see — grounding yourself in the present can help.
Steady your breathing
Take long, deep breaths. Try breathing out for longer than you breathe in to help calm your body.
Look after your basic needs
Try doing the following:
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Drink a glass of water
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Eat something if you’re hungry
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Sit somewhere comfortable
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Write down how you’re feeling
Avoid alcohol and recreational drugs, as these can make things worse.
Go outside
Feel the rain, sun or wind against your skin to reconnect with your body and the present moment.
Contact a helpline or listening service
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Samaritans: 116 123 (Free, available 24/7)
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Shout (text service): Text SHOUT to 85258
Use online peer support
You could try a mental health community like Side by Side, run by Mind.
“Sometimes it’s just about survival and focusing on something that’s real until the feelings can become easier to deal with.”
Challenge Your Thoughts
Make a deal with yourself not to act today
Promise yourself you won’t act on your thoughts today. If you’re not getting support, plan to reach out.
Find your reasons to live
You might feel like there’s no point in going on — but there is always hope. Try to:
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Write down what you’re looking forward to — even something small, like a meal or a show.
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Make plans to do something you enjoy soon.
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Think about people who love you. They would miss you.
Be kind to yourself
Talk to yourself like you would a close friend. Do something kind or comforting, like:
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Taking a warm bath
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Wrapping yourself in a blanket
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Watching your favourite film
These might feel silly — but small comforts matter.
Tell yourself you can get through this
Negative thoughts can feel overwhelming, but reminding yourself that you can survive this moment helps rebuild hope.
“Rather than focus on all the desperate negative thoughts about being a burden and of no use, bring your focus into trying to believe it will not last forever and working out how you can safely get through.”
Citations:
Mind. “Helping Yourself Now.” Mind, https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/suicidal-feelings/helping-yourself-now/. Accessed 14 July 2025.