Critical Suicide Risk Factors

 Wishing you didn't exist.

 Thinking you would like to go to sleep and not wake up.

 Dwelling on death.

 Thinking or feeling you would be better off dead.

 Thinking about suicide or feeling suicidal.

 Making plans or thinking about plans to commit suicide.

 Recent suicidal, dangerous or self-harming behavior.

Suicide is very final - if you succeed in taking your life - there are no second chances and nobody really knows what will happen when they die. It may be difficult to take in at this moment in time but the feelings you have at the moment may be temporary - you may not always feel like this. There are people who have been in the exactly the same position as you and have somehow found the strength to come out of it and have gone on to find happiness and fulfilment in life and to be able to cope with life more easily - they have found alternatives to suicide and were glad that they did not take their own life.

It is thought that up to 30% of all BDD sufferers will commit or attempt suicide. People with 'Body Dysmorphic Disorder' are 45 times more likely to commit suicide than people in the general population. This is serious!

During a BDD attack, a Bdder is filled with despair, loss of all hope, and sometimes suicidal ideation.

Many years ago I was trawling the internet after a particular bad time, when I came across the image of a beautiful young woman who had committed suicide because of her belief that she was 'ugly.' This young woman was called Neysa Jane Powley, take a look at the bottom of this page!

When I hear the word 'Suicide', it brings back some unwanted reminders.

A family member had been going through a really difficult time and was unable to cope with his emotions; he attempted to take his life on numerous occasions.

When I heard about all this over the phone, my head just fell in disbelief; I was hundreds of miles from those suffering the most and felt completely helpless.

I will admit to feeling angry, perhaps at first that was what hit me the most, how could he do this? What about all those who love him and will be left to pick up the pieces?

Even though I understood roughly his 'problems', I still couldn't work out why on earth he had to do something so drastic like taking his life.

In many ways that goes to show how we shouldn't be judging others as we are not walking in their shoes, they are their own person with differing thoughts and feelings.

Even if you are so depressed and feel nobody will miss you when you gone and nothing is worth hanging about for, etc, please just take this moment to reconsider.

This horrendously dark place is somewhere that millions visit each year through many differing reasons, you are not alone.

There is no shame in feeling this way but there is nothing noble about being a martyr when you could go out and get help.

If you are feeling suicidal then try to confide in someone. You may find a great listener in a friend or family member or can get some support from these services below;

Samaritans: 0845 790 9090 (1850 60 90 90 Rep. Of Ireland), email jo@samaritans.org, www.samaritans.org - 24 hr helpline offering emotional support for people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those which may lead to suicide.

SupportLine Telephone Helpline: 01708 765200, email info@supportline.org.uk or write to SupportLine at PO Box 2860 Romford, Essex RM7 1JA - Provides emotional support and details of support groups, helplines, agencies and counsellors throughout the UK.

Premier Lifeline: 0845 345 0707, email lifeline@premier.org.uk, www.premier.org.uk/lifeline - Helpline providing a listening service, information, emotional and spiritual support from a Christian perspective.

Calm: 0800 585858, www.thecalmzone.net - Campaign Against Living Miserably Help and support for young men aged 15-35 on issues which include depression and suicide. (Helpline service temporarily suspended due to lack of funds)

www.papyrus-uk.org - Prevention of youth suicide: will help parents and carers of young people who are suicidal to make contact with appropriate sources of support.

www.metanoia.org/suicide