I Want To End It But I Can't

We are so glad you found the courage to reach out today.  Having suicidal thoughts can be so terrifying.  Depression and suicidal thoughts can also cause one to want to isolate themselves so the fact that you took a step to get yourself some support shows how brave you are.  It sounds like you are in a lot of pain and can't handle the pain anymore.  There are ways to get help so that you can start to heal from the pain.  You have other options other than suicide, and we want to help you figure those out.

Trying to find out what causes suicidal thoughts can be tricky because sometimes it can be due to a hurtful or traumatic event and sometimes they can seem to come out of nowhere.  No matter the cause, it can be helpful to have some positive coping skills to fall back on when these thoughts get overwhelming.  A positive coping skill can be a hobby, interest, or anything that brings you some peace or distraction.  This can include listening to music, going for a walk, talking to a friend, etc.  Our website, YLYV.org, has a list of 99 coping skills.  You could look that over and pick ones you find helpful to try next time you are having suicidal thoughts.  Here is that link:

99 Coping Skills

Along with coping skills, you deserve to have a support system.  It is important to find a trusted adult like a teacher or parent and open up to about these things.  It can be helpful to get all of these feelings off of your chest and find someone you can create a plan with on how to stay safe.  It can be very scary to handle these things alone, and we want to make sure you get the help you need.

While we are glad to email with you, it sounds like your feelings are intense and a more immediate form of communication would be helpful.  There are other ways to reach us in order to speak directly to a counselor. This can be an easier way to have a conversation, and to be certain we understand and can support you in the way that you deserve.  We would really encourage you to contact us tonight so we can talk.

There are several ways to speak directly to a counselor:

CHAT or TEXT with a YLYV Counselor through www.yourlifeyourvoice.org.

There are also counselors available to speak to you by PHONE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at

1-800-448-3000.

Thank you so much for taking this step for yourself. We are here for you, and we hope you reach out for more support!

Sincerely,

Katie, Counselor