When Life Gets So Hard You Do Not Want to Live

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When life is hard, some people think about suicide.

• Suicide means ending your own life.
• Suicide means that you choose to die.
• Suicide means there is no tomorrow.

There are ways to make your life happier and better.

• If you are thinking about suicide:
  • Tell someone right away– a friend, family member, someone who works with you, or a doctor.
• Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
  • Someone will listen to you and suggest where you can find help.
  • The number is: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or TTY: 1-800-799-4TTY (4889).

Sometimes life gets hard when:

• You’re sick or in the hospital for a long time
• Someone you like moves away or dies
• Part of your body doesn’t work right
• You feel like people are always telling you what to do
• You forget to take medicine or it doesn’t work anymore
• You drink too much alcohol or take too many drugs

Sometimes life gets hard when:

• Something really bad happens and you think about it everyday
• You get hurt or abused by someone
• It is hard to get other people to understand you
• You’re very lonely, sad or worried about things

When people think about suicide, they might:

• Say things like:
  • “I wish I were dead”
  • “Life is not worth living”
  • “My family would be happier without me”
• Talk about death a lot
• Watch TV shows or listen to music about death
• Play games about death
• Think about ways to hurt themselves
• Do things to hurt themselves

Some people who think about suicide do not talk about it.

• They might:
  • Start to stay away from their friends and family
  • Not go to work
  • Stop doing things they used to like
  • Be mad all of the time
  • Be very grumpy all of the time
  • Do things that are dangerous

If this sounds like you or someone you know:

• Tell someone how you’re feeling right away.
• Tell a support person that someone you know is in danger!

If you think about hurting yourself:

• There are lots of people who can help you!
  • A mental health telephone help line
  • A doctor, therapist or social worker
  • Your support person
  • A friend or family member
  • Make a list of people you can call for help
  • You can make your list and print it out.

How can you keep from thinking about hurting yourself?

• Talk to people on your list any time you feel sad or upset. Especially talk to:
  • Family members
  • Friends
  • People who work with you
  • Doctors

How can you keep from thinking about hurting yourself?

• Work with a counselor or therapist to figure out:
  • What things make you think about hurting yourself?
  • How you can stay away from those things?
  • What will make your life better?
  • How you can make changes in your life?
• Learn more about counseling and therapy.

If someone tells you they are thinking about hurting themselves:

• Tell someone else right away or call 911.
• You may save the person’s life!

Learn more about preventing suicide:

• Depression and Suicide Information – SAVE
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or TTY: 1-800-799-4TTY (4889)
• Suicide Prevention: Information for Individuals and Families