Self harm

People rarely talk about self-harm, it is little understood and very distressing. It's more common than many people realise, especially among younger people.

Mind offers information for people about what self harming is.

Help for young people

If you're thinking about hurting yourself, or you already self harm, you can get lots of advice and support online:

• Childline gives you lots of ways to cope with feeling like you want to hurt yourself. You can also call them on 0800 1111 if you need immediate support.
• Young Minds suggests people who you can talk to about harming yourself, and what kind of professional help you can get.
• The Mix explains why young people self harm and who can support you.

Mind has produced a booklet on self harming which explains the causes and treatments, both for people who hurt themselves, and their friends and family.

The NSPCC also offers support to parents who are worried about a self-harming child.

Suicide

Thoughts of ending you own life mean that you have more pain than you can cope with right now.

Thoughts and actions are two different things - your suicidal thoughts don't have to become a reality. There is no deadline. Wait and put some distance between you and your suicidal thoughts and suicidal action.

Give yourself today

The option of killing yourself isn't going to go away. It's a choice you can make next week or next month. When you are feeling so bad the thought of just surviving the days ahead can seem overwhelming and unbearable. So try and focus on just getting through today, not the rest of your life.

Today may be painful, but you can try to survive it and give some other options a chance, at least for a day. Remember that however alone you feel, there are people who want to talk with you, who want to help.

Mind's guide to coping with suicidal feelings may help you understand how you're feeling and what to do.

Talk

If you're feeling suicidal, please talk to someone. Tell them what you're thinking and how you're feeling. Ask for their help and listen to their advice, and advice from others.

If you need someone to talk to, you can call the Samaritans 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The number is 116 123. It's free from mobiles and landlines, and it won't show up on your phone bill.

Teesside Samaritans have a branch on Borough Road, where you can speak to someone in person if you need to.

If you're a child or young person and you're thinking about suicide, you can call the Samaritans on 116 123, or Childline on 0800 1111. Calls to both numbers are free from mobiles and landlines, and won't show up on your phone bill.

Online help

You can find lots of support online.

• Mind gives advice about how to help yourself when you're feeling like you want to harm yourself, where you can get treatment and support, and what the causes of suicidal feelings can be.
• The Samaritans breaks down some of the myths around suicide, including who commits suicide and why, to help you, and your family and friends understand your feelings better.
• If U Care Share supports people before and during times of feeling suicidal, and those bereaved by suicide.
• CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) aims to prevent male suicide.
• Papyrus aims to prevent young people committing suicide.
• YoungMinds offers mental health support to young people.
• NHS Choices gives information about suicidal feelings, as well as how to deal with common causes, like depression.

Bereavement

• Winston's Wish offers support to children who've been bereaved of a parent, including through suicide.
• Cruse Bereavement Care supports children, young people and adults who have suffered a bereavement.
• Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide supports people who feel isolated after being bereaved by a suicide.