You can recover from a suicide attempt. It takes time to heal both physically and emotionally, but healing and help can happen. There is hope.
Silence isn’t strength. Don’t keep suicidal feelings to yourself. Lean on your support group, find a mental health counselor or a support group, or get in touch with the Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
Suicide attempt survivors and researchers who study suicide recommend counseling to help find long-term strategies to ease the emotional pain that led to your attempt.
Taking care of yourself is an important part of your recovery. Your "self-care" activities can be anything that make you feel good about yourself.
Have a step-by-step safety plan ready for if/when you feel depressed, suicidal, or in crisis, so you can start at step one and continue through the steps until you feel safe.
Ask and listen: Be an active part of your loved one's support systems and check in with them often. If they show any warning signs for suicide, be direct. Tell them it’s OK to talk about suicidal feelings. Practice active listening techniques and let them talk without judgment.
Be understanding: Do not make your loved one feel guilty. Don’t make it about you. Listen and be as understanding as possible.
Give a hug: Let them know they are still loved and you still want them in your life. Sometimes, a hug can say more than a thousand words.
Get them help and take care of yourself: Don’t be afraid to get your loved one the help they might need. Crisis help lines are available 24/7. Helping a loved one through a crisis is never easy. You might want to talk about your feelings with another friend or a counselor.