Understanding why suicide is so high in males
Suicide can be an uncomfortable topic but the more we talk about it and make it part of our everyday vocabulary, we can start to remove the shame and stigma around suicide, especially for men.
Trigger warning: This page contains information about self-harm which may bring up difficult feelings.
If you are having suicidal thoughts please don't hesitate to reach out for help by phone or text the Samaritans using 0330 094 5717
Tips and Help
Keeping yourself safe
Taking drugs or drinking alcohol makes it hard to think clearly and make good decisions. Alcohol is also a depressant which makes suicidal feelings even worse. If you have any drugs, flush them away. If you have anything that could harm you, get rid of it. It also helps to be with someone instead of being on your own.
5 things you can do
-
hobbies or stuff you enjoy
-
listening to music
-
physical activity like sports, dancing, jogging or yoga
-
something that gives you a sense of achievement, like drawing or doing a puzzle
-
looking at a photo of someone who really cares about you
MAKING A SAFETY PLAN
Having a safety plan you can look at when you're having suicidal feelings can really help you to cope. Try writing down answers to the points below and keep them in a safe place so you can use them when you're struggling. Try to think of:
-
Ways you can keep yourself safe
-
A safe place you can go
-
Anything that's helped in the past when you've had these thoughts
-
Any positive thoughts or feelings you could try to focus on instead
-
What you'd say to a friend who was having these feelings
-
Someone you can talk to, like a counsellor or adult you trust.
Talk to someone
Talking to someone about how you feel is a really important part of getting help. It means you don’t have to deal with everything on your own.
But it’s not always easy to do. Describing how you feel can feel really scary.
Try our tips to make it easier to talk:
-
plan and prepare what you want to say write down what you want to say and practise saying it think about the main things you want to get out of talking to someone
-
ask yourself if you want advice, or if you just want to say how you’re feeling try talking when the person isn’t busy or about to rush off.
