What is it?
Suicide means deliberately ending our own life
- 19,000 people aged 15-24 attempt suicide each year in the UK
- About 700 die as a result.
- Girls are more likely to attempt suicide than boys
- Boys are more likely to die from their suicide attempt
- Suicide rates in young men have doubled since 1985
Why do people commit suicide?
Often we have been feeling stressed, or down for some time.
Things like family problems, exam pressure or bullying can make us unhappy.
We feel despair. There seems no way out of our problems. Nobody seems to help. We think we'd rather be dead.
Sometimes there is a 'final straw': We get dumped. Or fail. Or threatened.
We can get confused and frightened. We may drink alcohol or take drugs. Then we get self destructive.
Isn't it our own right to die?
Suicide is not illegal. That doesn't mean there are no victims. The impact on our friends and families is devastating. And lasts forever.
Helping someone else to end their life is illegal.
I wish I was dead…
- Most of us have felt this way at some point. It is frightening and confusing seeing no way out. And easy to think that dying will make us feel better. It won't: We're not there to feel anything.
- There is an alternative. You have a future. And a lot to offer in life. Your circumstances have just got in the way. Hopelessness never lasts forever.
- Ask for help. Loudly and clearly. You don't need to harm yourself to make people notice. There are many people who care about you and what happens to you. Some of them you haven't met yet.
- Call The Samaritans. Or Childline.
- Now speak to your GP. I am a GP. And I wish more young people came to tell me how rubbish they feel. So that we can get them some support: Help figuring out what's gone wrong. And help putting things right again.
My friend wants to kill themselves…
This is a very frightening time for both of you.
You don't need to provide the answers - just listen to how they feel.
Avoid joking them out of it, or dismissing this as attention-seeking.
Try to persuade them to get some help. If in doubt, tell an adult. You may (temporarily) lose a mate. But this may stop you (and everyone else) losing them permanently.
Further help and advice
http://www.papyrus-uk.org/for-you.html
http://www.samaritans.org.uk/
http://www.childline.org.uk/
Written by Dr Melissa Sayer
Last updated 17th June 2007
Previous article
Anon, 14
Live everyone else, I have thought about it before, but I don't know how people go through with it...
anonymous, 17
about a year and a half ago i decided i wanted to kill myself. i started planning it all: letters, how i was going to do it and when. I felt so miserable and alone, like noone cared and it was dark and scary. A week and a half after i decided i wanted out, a boy id known since i was 3 shot himself. Everyone was devestated and looking around i knew that i couldnt end my life because he would have died for nothing. I felt like i could have stopped what happened in the way that he stopped me from killing myself if id only been quicker. Hed planned everything too, funeral songs and sent emails and picked a day when everyone was busy. I hated myself even more after that, and i still do because ive never known anyone more amazing than that and i could have stopped what happened. after his suicide i gradually got worse until i got to th point where i couldnt get up and i would jus sit there in th dark not even able to move. mum realised and she made me see a counciler and though i hated every second of it i had no way out so i had to sort myself out to end it. The feelings are still there, but i dropped out of sixth form and started college a few weeks ago, and for the 1st time in ages ive actually smiled and meant it inside too. I actually feel happier and its not jus painting a smile on my face all the time anymore. All i need now is for everythin else to be alright too. Please, noone else kill themselves, i swear to god id do whatever it took to keep another person from suicide or death of any kind and i hope that if i ever had to i would be able to do it. xXx
Laura, 13
i tried killing myself, i didn't go through with though, my m8's came to the rescue. Sometimes i wish they hadn't, but they made me relise that there is more to the world, and that i do have a future. I just want to say thanks to my m8's without them i wouldn't be here. people who r considering it don't, talk to someone, i know it gets bad, but u have to relise that people do love you.
charlotte, 21
i have contemplated suicide though i would never go through with it but i failed at university and have to repeat my exams im going to make an appointment to see the counsellor at uni and hopefully that should help
katie, 16
a couple of years ago my uncle hung himself from my nannas loft none of us no why he did it but we think it had something to do with him being schizophrenic. i have tried to commit suicide i have slit my wrists and tried overdosing a couple of times but it never worked i dont no why but i do no it wasnt fair on my friends and family who would of been left behind i still have suicidal thoughts now but if i do i tell to my friends and they help me threw it so i am truly grateful to them and my family. i do also regret cutting my wrists because now i have to live with the scars but i no it was my own fault so if you start thinking about comitting suicide just stop and think of the conseqeunces of your actions for you and those you will be leaving behind.thanks.
Sammy, 15
I have thought about commiting suicide but I couldnt. I couldnt bring myself to do it. I still feel like noone cares about me. Instead I Cut myself to get that out of my head or i talk to my friend but i feel stupid talking to her. The thoughts you get are horrid all you need is someone to hold and listen to you.
Lacey, 15
I read these comments and was extremely moved. There are so many stories of young people kiling themselves and it just makes you feel ill x But to be honest most of them is in result of bullying and it just makes me feel sick to the stomach to know that innocent people are taking there lifes in result of bullies trying to act hard and just try to impress themselves it is ridiculous x Please stop bullying and stop suicides xx Its not worth it it really isnt xxxx
Cath, 16
i tried to kill myself last year and found I didn't have the guts, instead of trying again I talked to my form tutor and realised someone cared about me and didn't try again, please TALK TO SOMEONE xx
Rose, 14
For A long Time I Was Bullied By A Numerous Amount of Girls, And occasionally boys. i was often threatening and beat up twice. i never told my family, and with my dad not wanting to see me i thought i had no will to live. i was this ugly fat bullied girl. nothing felt right, i was told by the bullies no-one would ever love me, so, suicide ran throuh my mind alot. I tried standing infront of vehicles to get ran over and tried to drown myself, but i was too scared, in a way, suicide is selfish, think of all those people in poverty around the world. when someone kills themselves a family has to live with the guilt, thinking they could of done something to help. my family got me through my problems, and now i intend of living my life.
Alex, 14
Hi, my uncle was really depressed because my auntie was having an affair. he once went out all night and never came back. Me, my mum and my step dad was at my aunties house and the phone rang. We rushed straight to the police station. They told us he had jumped off north bridge and was found on top of a smashed car covered in blood. Please, no more suiciedes x it took me great confidence to write this so please follow my advise and tell someone if you are feeling like a no body, thankyou x
Erica, 15
After my best friend of 14 years killed herself, I saw no reason to carry on, so I tried to commit suicide by over-dosing. I was rushed to Hospital where I had my stomach pumped - My family were devistated and I felt so guilty that I wanted to leave them, but angry that I survived. After that my Dad refered me to a counsellor where I spoke to her twice a week, it took some time but slowly I realised that life does mean something... Please, I adivise of you feel like doing something stupid, dont hesitate to ask for help!
scott, 14
i have thought about commiting suicide befor but i spoke to a friend about my problems and i felt better, i also have had a freind want to commit suicidie. i feel sorry for any one who ahs lost someone in this way it is a hard thing to deal with especial if there a gd m8even if u didnt know them but your friend did the effects off ur m8s could effect you.
Emily , 12
My uncle did it. It leaves a lasting effect! DONT DO IT!!!! SORR FOR EVERYONE WHO HAS BEEN THROUGH IT!!!! STAY STRONG!!!!
Robina, 13
I watched my friend be depressed for a long time, she always said to me how she wanted to die, how no one cared for her only me, she said she wanted to be loved, well. a year ago, 8th of June, my friend arranged for me to sleep around hers, i went at the time she told me to, i knocked at the door, no answer, so, i went round the back door, and sore her dead on the floor, a knife in her chest, after the police did things, they found out it was suicide, her family miss her deeply, so do i, If you feel like you want to die, and that no one cares, your wrong, because people DO CARE, even if it dosent feel like it, people don't like to show itPlz no more suicides xxx
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