Make A Safety Plan

A safety plan is a plan to support you at times when you may be thinking about suicide.

This plan is personal to you, and may include :

• How to recognise your warning signs
• Details of your own coping strategies, such as what has helped you cope in the past and what you can do to help yourself now
• The names and contact details of anyone you know who may be able to help
• The names and contact details of professionals or agencies you can contact if you are crisis
• Any helplines and listening services who can help you in a crisis
• Steps you can take to make your immediate environment safe
• Details of a safe place you can go, if you need to.

Try to make a plan when you can think clearly about what you would find helpful. You might want to complete the plan with someone you trust, such as a friend or therapist. You could also give them a copy of the plan to keep.

Learn To Manage Difficult Feelings

Take each day at a time. There might be good days and bad days. Try to focus on each day at a time and set yourself small, achievable goals.

Develop coping strategies that work for you. Self-help resources can help you work through difficult feelings and learn coping skills. The NHS has information about self-help for mental health problems.

Allow yourself to feel your feelings. Suppressing your feelings when they happen can cause them to build up over time and make them even harder to cope with. Think about what caused you to feel suicidal and share this with those supporting you.

Make A Hope Box

Fill with memories and items that can provide comfort and help lift your mood when you feel down.

The box can contain anything that is meaningful and helpful to you. For example:

• A favourite book
• Positive quotes
• Photos
• Letters
• Poems
• Notes to yourself
• A cuddly toy
• A perfume or smell that's important to you.

Learn Your Triggers

Keeping a diary can help you find patterns in your mood over time. It can also help you think about what might be causing you to feel suicidal. You can track your feelings by using an online mood diary. See our Resources Page for links to some mood diaries you could try.

Don't Blame Yourself

If you have tried to take your own life, or thought about taking your life, you may feel guilty afterwards. This can especially happen if the people close to you feel worried about you. Try to accept that it was just how you were feeling at the time, and focus your energy now on looking after yourself.

Write A Letter To Yourself

Try to include happy memories and mention people who care about you. This may be helpful to read when you are experiencing suicidal feelings to remind yourself that things can get better. You can find a template on our page here.

Make Plans To Look Forward To

Planning time to spend with others or doing things you enjoy can help you feel more positive about the future. It doesn't have to be something big like a holiday. You could book tickets to a music or art event, or try joining a club.

Build Your Self-Esteem

Self-esteem shapes self-perception, influencing emotional well-being, resilience, and coping skills, crucial for overall mental health.

Connect With Other People

Sometimes, talking to someone else can give you a fresh perspective on problems, helping you tackle challenges more effectively. Some other things you could try include :

• Seek Support
• Talk To Friends/Family
• Volunteer Somewhere
• Try Peer Support

Look After Your Physical Health

Some other things you could try include :

• Prioritise Good Sleep
• Avoid Recreational Drugs and Alcohol
• Consider Your Diet
• Engage in Physical Activity