Do you feel as if life is meaningless and that you don’t want to live anymore? Those are serious thoughts, and it is important that you tell someone how you feel. You are not alone in thinking about death and it’s good that you’ve found your way here. Understanding why someone might commit suicide or why you feel like you do might be difficult, and because of that it might make you feel better to talk to someone. Having suicidal thoughts is in and of itself not dangerous. But it is important that you talk to someone, so you can get help.

What could cause my suicidal thoughts?

Suicidal thoughts can be caused by many different things. Many who contemplate taking their lives suffer from, for example, depression or have another mental health diagnosis. Many have gone through something difficult, like losing a loved one, suffering abuse, or being bullied. Sometimes, it’s no easy task to figure out what causes one’s thoughts and feelings, and that’s okay. Many believe that they are completely alone, without anyone who would understand or listen, and that it is not worth living anymore because of that.

Where can I get help?

If you are having suicidal thoughts, it’s important for you to talk to an adult. You can talk to your school’s social worker(s), a teacher, coach or someone else you trust. You can also contact a youth clinic (umo.se) or any support group listed here. If you’ve tried getting help before, and it wasn’t right for you, don’t be scared to seek help again somewhere else. There is help to get and we are here for you!

You are going to feel better!

The most important thing to remember if you have suicidal thoughts is that things will get better. There are many different ways to handle suicidal thoughts, and their results vary from person to person. For some, medicines help, others need therapy, and so on. The first step is to talk about your thoughts instead of keeping them and your feelings to yourself.

What do I do when someone close to me has suicidal thoughts?

Having someone close to who is thinking about taking their life can be very difficult and scary. It’s never your or someone else’s fault that they feel the way they do.

If your friend, sibling, or other close one has suicidal thoughts, the most important thing you can do is to listen and show them that you are there for them. People with suicidal thoughts often feel alone and like nobody understands them, which is why the best thing you can do is to show them that you are there to support them. You can tell them that there is help that they can seek (see further up on this page)

If you are close to someone who is going through a tough time, you’re also more than welcome to talk to someone at our support groups. It’s important that you don’t forget how you feel in these situations.

Text by Amanda Källmark, Uppsala tjej- och transjour

Translated by Dannie Milve. Förenade tjej-, trans- och ungdomsjourer

Further reading:

Feeling bad

Self-esteem and self-confidence

Self harm