personal

when someone dies

feeling suicidal

When someone who was an important part of our lives dies, it can feel truly devastating. We can be unprepared for the intense feelings that can follow a death, and for the way in which a once familiar world is turned upside down. Faced with this devastation, some people find themselves wishing that they too were dead, that the world without the person who has died is now too scary, lonely, strange to carry on in. They might also wish to die to feel in some way that they are joining the person who has died. This is a common reaction, and for most people the feeling fades over time.

Sometimes, though, feelings of wanting to die can seem to take over. Some young people find that they are thinking more and more about killing themselves, and might even start to think about ways that they would actually do it. If this is happening with you, then it is really important that you find some support and help to get you through this difficult time. Finding someone to talk to can be an important first step. This could be someone you know, like a friend, someone in your family, a teacher that you trust, your doctor. Or you could ring a helpline, such as ChildLine 0800 11 11, Samaritans 08457 90 90 90 (both open 24/7), or Cruse Youth Helpline 0808 808 1677, (open Monday to Friday, 9.30a.m. to 5p.m). You could go online to www.there4me.com, to chat online in real time to an advisor, or send us an email to this website, which will be answered within 3 days by a trained volunteer.

However you’re feeling, it might help to remember that you’re not alone. If you look at the message board, you’ll be able to read how other young people have dealt with feeling so bad that they wanted to kill themselves. People do come through times like this.