How To Take Care Of Yourself
Don’t be afraid to reach out to friends and trusted adults in your life for support. You can also text, call, or chat the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline 24/7.
A safety plan can help guide you through difficult moments and keep you safe. Having a template on hand so you can create a safety plan may be helpful, or you can get help and guidance at mysafetyplan.
Family conflicts, relationship hardships, school pressures, and discovering your identity can feel overwhelming and impossible to deal with alone. Losing relationships and important people in our lives can also feel overwhelming. Seeking out support can make these changes manageable.
Relationships, platonic or romantic, should be safe and healthy. Toxic or unhealthy relationships can negatively affect you. Whether you’re dating or building new friendships, prioritize mutual respect. If you’re being bullied, help is also available.
How To Help
If your child/adolescent, friend, or family member confides in you that they are having thoughts of suicide, believe them, and give them support. Find more information on our Help Someone Else page.
A fight or breakup might not seem like a big deal, but for a young person it can feel immense. Empathize and listen. Don’t minimize their feelings, it can affect how they reach out for support in the future.
Friends sometimes let friends know if they are thinking about suicide or dying. Other times, changes in behavior may show that someone is struggling. Find more guidance on steps you can take to help someone else thinking about suicide.
If your friend is considering suicide, don’t promise to keep it a secret. Tell him or her you can help, but you need to involve other people, like a trusted adult. Neither of you have to face this alone.
