Always Hope.
Planning or Contemplating Suicide?
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PERCENT of Teens Attempted Suicide in the Past 12 Months. YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
Ten Practical Things You Can Do if You’re Thinking About Suicide
1. Talk To Someone You Trust – Right Now
You don’t have to carry this alone. Reach out to a close friend, family member, counselor, or faith leader and let them know what you’re going through.
2. Call or Text the Crisis Line – 988
Trained crisis counselors are available 24/7. Calling or texting 988 will connect you with immediate support.
3. Get To a Safe Place
If you’re somewhere that increases your risk (alone, near harmful objects, etc.), move to a safer environment such as a public place or with a trusted person.
4. Delay the Decision
Give yourself 24–48 hours before taking any action. Often the urge passes or weakens with time and support.
5. Read Through Your Safety Plan
If you have a plan made with a counselor, follow it step by step. If you don’t, start one now by writing down coping strategies, safe contacts, and emergency numbers.
6. Ground Yourself in the Moment
Use grounding techniques like naming five things you see, four things you feel, three things you hear, two things you smell, and one thing you taste. It helps bring your focus back to the present.
7. Move Your Body – Even for 5 Minutes
Physical activity can reduce stress and shift your mental state. Go for a short walk, stretch, or do light exercise.
8. Make a List of 10 Reasons to Stay
Write down or say out loud reasons to live—even small ones. Keep the list visible and return to it when your thoughts feel heavy.
9. Remind Yourself This Is Temporary
Strong emotions and thoughts come in waves. Remind yourself that the intensity of this pain will not last forever.
10. Call 911 if It’s an Emergency
If you are about to harm yourself or feel unsafe, call 911 (or your local emergency number) right away.
Create a Suicide Safety Plan
Create a plan so you are ready for life’s toughest moments. WE encourage you to download this app to create your own safety plan. This was created by the Veterans Affairs Administration but is available for civilians. None of your information is shared.
Take a Minute and Read this True Story
It could save your life…
“An hour ago I made the decision that today is the day I’m ending my life. I just can’t take it anymore. Too much has gone wrong for too long; too much time has forever vanished. I’m not too popular; I don’t date a lot; nobody really knows the real me; and besides, once I’m dead, nobody’s going to miss me anyway. I have no purpose; don’t have a clue as to why I’m even alive. I can’t seem to find any direction for my future. I’m tired of always feeling so alone and depressed. The pain on the inside is just getting worse. I feel like I’m being drawn further down into a bottomless, dark pit and as I am, the desire to end my life seems to be intensifying every day. I don’t want to live like this; actually, this isn’t even living, at best, it’s existing.
I mean, for all I know, maybe I was never even supposed to be born.
Just as soon as chapel was over, my plan was to call my mom and ask her to bring my medicine to school. I knew she’d bring me the whole bottle of pills. When she did, I was going to the girl’s bathroom where I was going to swallow the entire bottle of medicine, sit down on the floor, close my eyes, and never have to wake up again. Soon it was all going to be over.”
SIGN THE PLEDGE
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Take a stand to choose life. By signing the pledge you are committing to taking ownership over your life and you are committing to your own value as a person created on purpose, with purpose and for purpose!
DISCLAIMER
Dean Sikes and those who work with our youmatter.us ministry are not licensed counselors or qualified for crisis service. The information we provide is for inspirational purposes only because we truly care. We are a non-profit organization and cannot provide any medical, psychological, diagnostic or treatment services. Our goal is simply to offer hope and encouragement and hopefully prevent suicide, injury or death, however we cannot guarantee these results. The diagnosis and treatment of depression and other psychiatric disorders should be performed by licensed health care professionals.
If you feel you are in crisis, please text or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. It is a free hotline that provides access to trained and caring telephone counselors, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you are in an emergency, call 911 or go immediately to your nearest emergency room.
Also, we do try to answer letters and emails we receive. We simply cannot assume any obligation, legal or otherwise, to follow up with people. We are not staffed sufficiently to be responsible for correspondence not answered or delivered in a timely manner or for the final actions of someone receiving any of our correspondence.
The resources provided on this page are intended solely for informational and support purposes. While we have selected these links based on their potential to offer help and encouragement to those struggling with thoughts of suicide, we do not own, manage, or officially endorse the content of any external websites listed here. We are not responsible for the accuracy, effectiveness, or safety of these third-party resources. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger or experiencing a crisis, please contact emergency services or a qualified mental health professional right away.
Also note, suicide is never the answer. Where there is life, there is hope.