How to Seek Help on RYL
Our
Suicide Information Package is a great source of advice if you are thinking about suicide and is filled with plenty of information about your choices and how to seek help, as well as dealing with suicidal feelings and the painful emotions and thoughts that can cause them:
RYL Sources of Help
The main source of seeking help when feeling suicidal on RYL is by posting a thread in our
Serious Discussion and Advice board, or by entering Room 3 or 4 in
Chat. The best way to seek help is by letting others know what the problem is. The first questions you're likely to be asked include:
- What's caused you to be feeling like this today?
- Is there anyone who could come and sit with you, or anyone you could call right now?
- Do you have any personal or professional help at the moment?
- What can we do to help?
- Do you think you could go to A&E or call 999/911 if you feel unsafe?
Please try to remember that people will reply to your thread, but at quiet times (like during the school/working day, or at night) it might take a little while. This does not mean people don't care. If you need immediate help, it is best to go to your nearest Hospital or call a Helpline (see below).
How to seek help if words fail
You are more than welcome to contact the
Supporters (by email), and we will do our best to help, even if you feel lost for words right now.
Otherwise, please don't be afraid to make a thread, even if you're finding it hard to talk about things right now. If you can, try to include as much information as you are comfortable sharing, or considering posting something along the lines of, "I don't have many words tonight, but I'm really struggling and could do with some company."
Tips and Suggestions
Try to include
paragraphs if you're writing a lot; it's harder for people to offer support if they're confronted with a wall of text.
Please try to ensure that your thread is in the most appropriate board.
Specific topic forums (Eating Disorder, Abuse, Self Injury, Substance Abuse, Mental Health) are much better for seeking support much of the time than Serious or General Support and Advice, unless your thread spans several areas.
Please remember it is more helpful to have
one thread, rather than starting several new threads, particularly if you have more than one active thread. This is because it is difficult for members to support when conversation is spread across several threads, it is hard to see what has been written before, and it is harder for members to follow your progress, such as by subscribing to a thread.
If your thread has not been answered please consider posting
*bump* on the thread in case it has slipped down, and remember that it can take a little longer to get replies at quiet times.
Rules
Please do remember that the
rules apply, even on the Serious board and in R/Vs. In particular, this includes suicide notes (or Goodbye notes) and 'countdowns' ("I'm going to kill myself on my birthday/in X days"). It also covers all forms of emotional blackmail ("because you said such and such, I am going to commit suicide.")
Other Sources of Help
RYL Live Help: Though we are offline due to technical problems right now, you can always leave us a message and we will do our best to reply as soon as we can via email. You can also email the Supporters directly at
support@recoveryourlife.com.
Childline - 0800 1111 or LiveChat
Samaritans (UK)- 08457 90 90 90 or email
jo@samaritans.org
Hopeline (USA) - (800)442-4673
GetConnected - 0800 808 4994, LiveChat or text 80849.
Other Sources of Help may include CMHT or GP, Crisis, Out of hours GP, NHS Direct.
