Myth: People who talk about suicide aren’t serious and won’t go through with it.

Fact: People who kill themselves have tried to tell someone that they do not feel life is worth living or that they have no future. Some may have actually said they want to die.

It’s possible that someone might talk about suicide as a way of getting help to stay safe.

It’s important to always take someone seriously if they talk about feeling suicidal. Helping them get the support they need could save their life.

Myth: If a person is serious about killing themselves then there’s nothing you can do.

Fact: Often, feeling actively suicidal is temporary, even if someone has been feeling low, anxious or struggling to cope for a long period of time. This is why getting the right kind of support at the right time is so important.

Myth: You have to be mentally ill to think about suicide.

Fact: 1 in 5 people have thought about suicide at some time in their life. And not all people who die by suicide have mental health problems at the time they die. However, many people who kill themselves do suffer with their mental health, typically to a serious degree. Sometimes it’s known about before the person’s death and sometimes not.

Myth: People who are suicidal want to die.

Fact: The majority of people who feel suicidal do not actually want to die; they do not want to live the life they have. The distinction may seem small but is very important. It’s why talking through other options at the right time is so vital.

Myth: Talking about suicide is a bad idea as it may give someone the idea to try it.

Fact: Suicide can be a taboo topic. Often, people who are feeling suicidal don’t know how to tell someone for fear of being stigmatised about their thoughts of suicide. But, by asking someone directly about suicide, you give them permission to tell you how they feel. People who have felt suicidal will often say what a huge relief it was to be able to talk about what they were experiencing. Once someone starts talking they’ve got a better chance of discovering alternative options to suicide.

Myth: People who say they are going to take their own life are just attention seeking and shouldn’t be taken seriously.

Fact: People who say they want to end their lives should always be taken seriously.

It may well be that they are calling out for help to get the support that may save their life.