Help for suicidal thoughts

If you’re feeling like you want to die, it’s important to tell someone.

Help and support is available right now if you need it. You don’t have to struggle with difficult feelings alone.

Phone a helpline

These free helplines are there to help when you’re feeling down or desperate.

Unless it says otherwise, they are open 24 hours a day, every day.

Samaritans – for everyone Call 116 123 Email [email protected]

Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) – for men  Call 0800 58 58 58 – 5pm to midnight every day Visit the webchat page

Papyrus – for people under 35 Call 0800 068 41 41 – Monday to Friday 10am to 10pm, weekends 2pm to 10pm, bank holidays 2pm to 5pm Text 07786 209697 Email [email protected]

Childline – for children and young people under 19  Call 0800 1111 – the number won’t show up on your phone bill

The Silver Line – for older people Call 0800 4 70 80 90

Mindline Cumbria Call 0300 561 0006 or text ‘Mind’ to 81066

https://www.safetydetectives.com/blog/parents-guide-for-safe-youtube-and-internet-streaming-for-kids/ – This guide features what children do online, the threat of online strangers and how to ensure a healthy balance between Internet use, your children’s online privacy, digital security, and more on online safety to mention.

Talk to someone you trust

Let family or friends know what’s going on for you. They may be able to offer support and help keep you safe.

There’s no right or wrong way to talk about suicidal feelings – starting the conversation is what’s important.

Who else you can talk to

If you find it difficult to talk to someone you know, you could:

  • call your GP – ask for an emergency appointment
  • call 111 out of hours – they will help you find the support and help you need
  • contact your mental health crisis team – if you have one

Important

Is your life in danger?

If you have seriously harmed yourself – for example, by taking a drug overdose – call 999 for an ambulance or go straight to A&E.

Or ask someone else to call 999 or take you to A&E.

Tips for coping right now

  • try not to think about the future – just focus on getting through today
  • stay away from drugs and alcohol
  • get yourself to a safe place, like a friend’s house
  • be around other people
  • do something you usually enjoy, such as spending time with a pet

See more tips from Rethink.

Worried about someone else?

If you’re worried about someone, try to get them to talk to you. Ask open-ended questions like: “How do you feel about…?”

Don’t worry about having the answers. Just listening to what someone has to say and taking it seriously can be more helpful.

See Samaritans’ tips on how to start a difficult conversation.

Rethink also has advice on how to support someone who is having suicidal thoughts.

The Lighthouse

Sanctuary and support in times of crisis

6pm– 11pm. Every night of the year. Call 0300 561 0000

The Lighthouse is a calm, safe and comfortable place for people in Carlisle and Eden to visit when they are experiencing crisis, feeling unsafe or finding it hard to cope. We are open 6pm to 11pm, every night of the year, when most other services are closed.

At The Lighthouse you can talk to one of our crisis support workers – time to be listened to or to explore together ways to feel safe and strategies to help you cope with your crisis. Some people simply use The Lighthouse as a calm and safe place to have some time out, a sanctuary while the feelings pass. Others find support through talking to people in a similar situation as them.

You are welcome to visit The Lighthouse as often as feels useful to you, though we do stress that we are here for your worst times. Many people visit The Lighthouse once, or a small number of times until their crisis has passed. Others use the service for a longer period of time, for out-of-hours support with serious mental health problems or because their lives are very difficult. We welcome both of these, and anything in between. The service is confidential. We won’t tell anyone about your visit unless you ask us to – except in exceptional circumstances.

The Lighthouse is a place to find sanctuary and support in times of crisis. A calm, welcoming and safe place where you can get one-to-one support, the chance to talk about what’s going on for you, to look at ways of coping and keeping yourself safe and to find out more about what other services locally might support you.

At The Lighthouse they can offer you

  • A safe environment where you will be listened to with warmth and understanding, and you won’t be judged.
  • A chance to look at ways of coping with your crisis and keeping yourself safe
  • Information about mental health and other places to get support

The service is open 6pm to 11pm, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Visits to The Lighthouse are by appointment only. If you feel in crisis and would like to visit The Lighthouse, you can ring and refer yourself on 0300 561 0000. We will ask you a few questions about how you’re feeling and what’s going on for you. If you’ve visited The Lighthouse before please call us first to request a further visit. We are based in Carlisle City Centre, close to both the central bus and train stations. Our staff will give you directions when you call.

If we are full, or if you’d prefer not to come to The Lighthouse, our MindLine staff are available to provide crisis support over the phone every night until 11pm

For more information please click on any of the links below:-

http://www.mindlinecumbria.org/contact.aspx

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/

http://www.cemind.org/our-services/the-lighthouse.aspx

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/suicide/