Staying Safe for Now

If you are struggling to stay safe from suicide right now, recognise that you have choices.

As well as the choices of suicide or staying alive, you have a third choice; stay safe for now. Here are some ideas to help you keep safe.

  1. Firstly, if you haven’t already, please visit our Find Help Now section and reach out. Let someone know how bad things are and accept help.
  2. Secondly, try to keep yourself safe from anything you might use to harm yourself or try to end your life with. This might mean removing planned methods of suicide or asking someone to help you with this. This might also mean keeping yourself away from a location. Try to make your home a safe place.
  3. Thirdly, try not to be on your own. If at all possible, try and be with someone you trust, who knows that you are thinking about suicide, and who will help you stay safe for now. You might also go to a place that feels safe, or a busy environment where you are not alone.
  4. Fourthly, try to avoid alcohol or illegal drugs. They can make things worse by intensifying your feelings and making you more likely to behave impulsively.

When things are really difficult, staying safe for even 5-10 minutes and then reviewing how you are is a positive step.