Suicide is the act of killing yourself intentionally.

If you’re ever in immediate danger of suicide

Call the Police on 999 straight away

Tell an adult you trust who will be able to support you through a difficult time

Suicide is the act of killing yourself intentionally. If you have been having thoughts or feelings of suicide you must reach out to someone immediately so you can get help.

All adults have a responsibility of keeping you safe!

Please speak to someone you trust, this could be a parent or family member, a neighbour, your carer or social worker. You might want to speak to a teacher or someone else in your school that you trust such as one of the receptionists, or the janitor for example. Maybe you could speak to the school nurse or your Doctor. 

There are also special helplines, where you can speak to someone who you can trust and who will help keep you safe. It is important you contact them if you can’t speak to anyone else.

Feeling Nervous about calling to speak to someone you don’t know about how you feel? Don’t Worry!
Sometimes it’s not easy to talk.

Here are some tips from Childline UK 0800 1111:

• Find somewhere you can talk
• Please call! Dial the number to see what calling is like, you don’t have to say anything at first, maybe just Hi so the person at the other end of the telephone knows you are there
• Listen  
• Take your time
• Talk about something that interests you if you are finding talking difficult but remember the person on the other end of the phone is there to help you.  

Here are some helpline numbers of people you can speak to:

If you are having thoughts of suicide or are concerned for a young person who might be, you can contact HOPELINEUK for confidential support and practical advice. HOPELINE support children and young people under the age of 35 and will provide you with a safe space to talk through anything happening in your life that could be impacting your or anyone else’s ability to stay safe. 

Call: 0800 068 4141
Text: 07860039967
Email: pat@papyrus-uk.org

Opening hours: 9am – midnight every day of the year (Weekends and Bank Holidays included) 

Free, confidential support online and over the phone for young people under 19. Calls are free from landlines and mobiles in the UK, even if you don’t have credit on your mobile phone. 

Call 0800 1111

Scotland’s national charity that provides support with all types of issues and provides a listening ear and emotional support to LGBTI young people 13–25 years and families, promoting their health and wellbeing.

Helpline: 0300 123 253
Tuesday and Wednesday 12pm – 9pm
Thursday and Sunday 1pm -6pm 
Helpline@lgbthealth.org.uk
Live chat at www.lgbthealth.org.uk

The Mix is a free, confidential helpline and online counselling service to support young people under 25 with the challenge they are facing – from mental health to money, homelessness to finding a job, and break-ups to drugs.

Talk to them via their online community and social media or use their crisis messenger by texting THEMIX to 85258

Feeling anxious, stressed, or need support? Shout is a free, confidential, anonymous service for anyone in the UK. It won’t appear on your phone bill. Trained volunteers 24/7 to listen and support you to get to a calmer and safe place. 

To start a conversation, text the word SHOUT to 85258

Rookie Rockstars is a local charity that aims to improve children’s and young people’s mental health and wellbeing. As well as a music programme for children and young people, Rookie Rockstars offer free and subsidised mental health counselling services in their offices in Kirkintilloch. They offer services to young people from the ages of 5-18 years and to families, individuals and parent carers also. You can make an enquiry by emailing minds@rookierockstars.org.uk

Causes of feeling suicidal

Something may have happened in your life that has upset you such as being bullied, or someone may have hurt you, or you may have been abused.  Perhaps you may have problems in your family or have lost someone you care about.  Maybe someone you know has died of suicide, this might have been someone close to you or, someone you didn’t know, but looked up to such as a celebrity. 

You might feel some of the following 

• Feeling stressed, low or depressed 
• Feeling like you don’t want to see friends or talk to anyone
• You might be feeling scared about something
• You may have felt suicidal thoughts before
• Feeling like you don’t belong, perhaps you have been a victim of discrimination, racism, bullying or cyber bullying perhaps on social media
• You may have started behaving differently such as drinking alcohol or taking drugs and taking part in more risky activities that can harm you. 
• Is someone pressurising you into doing something that you don’t want to do and know is not right. 
• Are you in trouble and don’t think there is any way to get out?

These are just some of the feelings that may give you thoughts of suicide, there are others.  If you are feeling suicidal, please speak to someone you trust or call one of the helplines above.  

Parent Support 

It is not always easy to know when a child or young person may be feeling suicidal.  Some may be very clear and talk to parents/carers/friends/teachers or others about how they are feeling, however some may not.

It is important to keep children and young people safe from suicide and create as many opportunities as possible for them to speak up.

The following may be warning signs that you may be observing a child or young person who needs help:

• Having feelings of hopelessness
• Significant changes in their personality or mood
• Losing interest in things they may have normally enjoyed
• Withdrawing from social activities with friends 
• Talking about death, writing or drawing about death
• Threatening to complete suicide 
• Having a suicide plan
• Having means to carry out suicide – access to knives, sharp objects, medication, access to chemicals such as household chemicals, access to weapons, access to rope, and belts. 
• Drinking alcohol/taking drugs
• Engaging is risky behaviour
• Children and young people may act differently, perhaps they may start giving away personal items, cleaning their room, and throwing away belongings. Getting things in order.
• Their mood may change suddenly, perhaps from being low for some time to becoming happy very quickly with no explanation. 

Support for Parents and Carers 

EDAMH – CEDAR Project provides support to Children and Young people 4-16 years and their mothers who are experiencing mental health difficulties due to their experience of domestic abuse.

Call 0141 955 3040 Opening hours: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm 
Email: info@edamh.org.uk 

YOUNGMINDS provides parent/carer guidance to parents whose children may be struggling with suicidal thoughts and feelings.  Please find the link below to support discussions with your child about suicide, to understand how to speak to them and to help provide support.

Children 1st Parentline is a support service dedicated to parents/families and carers needing help by putting children and their families at the centre of their work.  The service offers emotional and practical support, acting as advocacy support in order to provide children and their families with the best life they can have.