What should you do if your feelings of self-harm or suicide feel strong?

Sometimes when people feel depressed or anxious, thoughts about wanting to hurt themselves can arise. This can be due to a desire to “escape” from their current negative feelings and replace it with more tangible physical pain. Sometimes, patients seek out a way to feel “something, anything” if they have been experiencing emotional numbness. These feelings are real and potentially dangerous and should be taken seriously. If patients are feeling urges to hurt themselves the first thing to do is to tell someone right away – a family member or a friend. They should try to be in the same physical space as someone else rather than alone. 

Physical movement (ex. walking, running in place, jumping jacks) as well as a hot/cold shower can also relieve such an urge. Holding ice in their hands or drinking an iced beverage can also distract their senses to focus more on the coldness rather than the urges to hurt themselves, allowing time for those thoughts to cool off. If these feelings remain strong or become more difficult to resist, patients MUST seek emergent medical care right away.  

If you are in crisis you can always go to your nearest emergency room or call 911 (ask for the Psychiatric Emergency Response Team or PERT).  Having strong suicide or self-harm thoughts are considered medical emergencies!

Access and Crisis Line 🔗: 888-724-7240

Trained and experienced counselors are available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day to provide support, referrals, and crisis intervention. 

Crisis Text Line 🔗: 741-741 

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 🔗: 988

Provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

California Mental Health Line: Phone/Text 855.845.7415

Mon-Fri 7 am – 11 pm

Sat 7 am – 3 pm

Sun7 am – 9 pm