Suicidal feelings

Explains what suicidal feelings are, and what you can do if you feel suicidal. Also covers the causes, treatments and support options for suicidal feelings.

This page is also available in Welsh.

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What are suicidal feelings?

Suicide is the act of intentionally taking your own life.

Suicidal feelings can mean having abstract thoughts about ending your life or feeling that people would be better off without you. Or it can mean thinking about methods of suicide or making clear plans to take your own life.

If you are feeling suicidal, you might be scared or confused by these feelings. You may find the feelings overwhelming.

But you are not alone. Many people think about suicide at some point in their lifetime.

"I couldn't see past the pain. It was a different reality for me. I only knew I wanted the pain to stop, the anguish to go away."

What does it feel like to be suicidal?

Different people have different experiences of suicidal feelings. You might feel unable to cope with the difficult feelings you are experiencing. You may feel less like you want to die and more like you cannot go on living the life you have.

These feelings may build over time or might change from moment to moment. And it's common to not understand why you feel this way.

How you might think or feel

hopeless, like there is no point in living
tearful and overwhelmed by negative thoughts
unbearable pain that you can't imagine ending
useless, not wanted or not needed by others
desperate, as if you have no other choice
like everyone would be better off without you
cut off from your body or physically numb
fascinated by death.

What you may experience

poor sleep, including waking up earlier than you want to
a change in appetite, weight gain or loss
no desire to take care of yourself, for example neglecting your physical appearance
wanting to avoid others
making a will or giving away possessions
struggling to communicate
self-loathing and low self-esteem
urges to self-harm.

"Suicidal thoughts aren't permanent – things do improve. You can find your motivation to live again."

What's it like to have suicidal feelings?

Graham, Miram, Alicia and Lee talk about what it feels like to want to take your own life, and ways they have learned to cope.

How long will I feel suicidal?

How long suicidal feelings last is different for everyone. It is common to feel as if you'll never be happy or hopeful again.

But with treatment and support, including self-care, the majority of people who have felt suicidal go on to live fulfilling lives.

The earlier you let someone know how you're feeling, the quicker you'll be able to get support to overcome these feelings. But it can feel difficult to open up to people.

You may want others to understand what you're going through, but you might feel:

unable to tell someone
unsure of who to tell
concerned that they won't understand
fearful of being judged
worried you'll upset them.

If you feel like this, you might find it helpful to show our pages on supporting someone else with suicidal feelings to someone you trust. This can be a good way of starting the conversation and can give them suggestions of how they can help you.

It's important to remember that you deserve support, you are not alone and there is support out there.

"Sharing that I felt suicidal with close friends, although scary as I worried they'd be angry, has helped me in subsequent black times. They said they'd hate to lose me having not been given the chance to help."