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Staying safe when you’re feeling suicidal

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Quick Facts

  • Feeling suicidal means feeling more pain than you can cope with at the time. But remember: no problem lasts forever. 
  • With help, you can feel better and keep yourself safe. People get through this — people who feel as badly as you feel now. So get help now. You can survive. 
  • If your life is in danger

    • Tell someone how you feel
    • Contact an emergency service to help keep you safe, such as:
      • Call 000
      • Call your local hospital and ask for the Mental Health Team
      • Go to your emergency department
      • Call a crisis helpline - they're listed at the end of this article 
  • If you're feeling suicidal but not in danger right now

    • Try to distance your thoughts and actions. Say to yourself, ‘I will wait 24 hours before I do anything’, so you can seek help during that period. 
    • Put any items you could use to hurt yourself out of reach or destroy them. Or ask a trusted friend to look after them. 
    • Do something that has brought you even a small amount of pleasure or distraction before, such as taking a walk, listening to music, taking a hot bath, watching a funny movie, reading or some slow deep breathing. 
    • Get together with others, even if you don't feel like it, so you are not alone. 
    • Reduce drug or alcohol use. These can make it more likely that you may harm yourself, by making you more impulsive and increasing feelings of depression. 
    • Write about your thoughts and feelings. Remember especially to write about the things in your life that you value and appreciate, no matter how small they may seem to you. 
    • If you have developed a safety plan before, look at this again to remind yourself of strategies and ideas you have written before 
  • Long-term support 

    Most suicidal thoughts are associated with underlying causes such as mental health issues (for example, depression), a trauma or difficult life events. 

    Psychological treatments can help, as can medication and support, or a combination of these. Remember people do get through this – even people who feel as badly as you feel now. Read more about what treatment and support is available for mental health issues.  

    Or contact SANE counselling support online or on 1800 187 263, Monday to Friday 10am-10 pm AEST/AEDT for support, information and referrals.  

    Some people develop safety plans to help them if they are feeling suicidal. If you haven’t developed a safety plan, you can create one yourself – or with a trusted friend, family member, or professional – using the Beyond Now webpage or app. 

  • Where to call for help

    For immediate assistance:

  • Connect with others and hear real stories 

    • Visit the SANE Forums to chat with others who get it. Start connecting with others who have been through mental health issues or suicidal thoughts and actions. 
    • Visit Better Off With You to find real stories of people who have survived suicidal thoughts and actions, and discovered how much they matter to the people around them.     
Last Updated: 23 June, 2025

Latest discussions on the forums

If you sometimes struggle to say it out loud, or tell someone in person, you can reach out for support here: SANE’s professionally moderated forums are a safe and anonymous community of support that you can access any time of day or night, and on any device.

Lived Experience

Friends, Family & Carers

Ways we can support you

Choose from a range of FREE complex mental health supports, including recovery programs with counselling, peer support and/or groups, 24/7 community forums, events, and information and resources. 

Please note: We’re improving how we support you and help you navigate the mental health system. You might notice some change over the next little while as we improve the way our service works to guide people towards the free counselling and peer support in SANE’s Guided Recovery program and Forums.

While we are undertaking this work to improve our services, access to SANE’s drop-in counselling will not be available via our 1800 Support Line.

SANE’s Support Line provides access to mental health resources and information, SANE service navigation and connection to external services. This service is designed to help find the right support for you, is accessible via phone or webchat and available Monday to Friday 10am-8pm (AEDT/AEST).

Counselling and peer support is available through the Guided Recovery program and Forums and we’re working to make Guided Recovery available in new regions. We’ll provide more updates as these changes are made.

If you or someone you know require immediate emergency mental health support, please call Lifeline 13 11 14, or 000 if there is an immediate risk or danger.

If you would like to provide feedback about this change, you can share it with us here.

Reach out by phone

Available Monday-Friday, 10am-8pm (AEDT/AEST). Mental Health Support Workers are here to help you access SANE’s free services based on your needs, navigate the mental health system and find the right support for you. 
Call 1800 187 263.
Translating and Interpreting Service, call 131 450.

Community Forums

Available 24/7. Connect with people who understand what you are going through, seek advice and surround yourself with support. They're safe and anonymous.

RecoveryClub

Available Monday to Friday, 12-8pm (AEDT/AEST). A 6-month online program for people wanting to navigate their mental health recovery at their own pace. Access evidence-based recovery resources and online groups to help you manage your mental health and work towards your recovery goals.

Guided Recovery

Available Monday to Friday, 10am to 8pm (AEDT/AEST). A 15-week program for people wanting individual guidance and support with their mental health recovery. Includes 6 appointments with a dedicated counsellor or peer support worker and access to online groups.

Mental Health Recovery Webinars

Last Wednesday of every month, 7-8pm (AEDT/AEST). Monthly community webinars with new topics and guests, including lived experience advocates and subject matter experts. 

Information and Resources

Available 24/7. Access information you can trust on complex mental health issues. SANE factsheets and guides are easy to read and can help you understand what’s happening and what strategies can be helpful.

Guidance for supporting someone at risk of suicide

Available 24/7. A resource that provides information and advice about supporting someone who has attempted, or is at risk of attempting, suicide.

Have questions? Click here to read our FAQs or email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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