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Real Student Stories

Meet Donna

Several traumatic incidents and a difficult bereavement left Donna battling depression and post-traumatic stress, but with the help of religious faith and a determination not to be defeated she now describes herself as happy, strong and confident... more >>
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Also in "Getting Support & Help"...
"At the time I sat in front of all those pills and was too scared to take them, it felt like I was being really weak. I know now that's just because I was that messed up inside. The things I wanted to do were just not in any kind of order. I am glad that the bit of me that wanted to survive held out.

I am much more sure of who I am now because I've consciously reconstructed my life from a state where I'd given up on every aspect of myself and didn't want to live any more. I feel like I've got a much more solid foundation because I know that this time I have actually dealt with the stuff properly."
Ben

Desperate right now?

  SUICIDE IS NOT THE WAY OUT!
Many people who have attempted or come close to suicide look back with gratitude that they were not successful in acting on their intentions.
If you are about to harm yourself or have already done so, phone 999 or get yourself quickly to your local hospital's A&E (accident and emergency)

What to do if you are feeling actively suicidal now:

  • Make a deal with yourself that you will not act just yet.
  • Tell someone else how you are feeling or find someone to be with you.
  • If that is not possible right now, phone an all-hours contact
    (if you have a shared phone find a phone box):
    Samaritans - 24 hrs trained listening service 08457 90 90 90
    NHS - 24 hrs medical advice and support
        NHS Direct (England & Wales) 08 45 46 47
        NHS 24 (Scotland) 08454 242424
    Or phone your local GP's out of hours service
    Nightline - all night student listening service See your campus website
    Get connected - info about local counselling services for under 25s (free for mobile phones) 0808 808 4994
    International email and phone help details www.befrienders.org
  • Do something to distract yourself from your thoughts
    - watch TV or a DVD; read a book; write in a diary; tidy your room or sort out a pile of papers etc.

Other things to consider:

Next:

 Worried about someone else >>

Links

More about getting help: talking to someone, what's stopping me getting help?, getting support and help
More about considering suicide: thinking about suicide, making sense of suicide, surviving suicidal thoughts
More about others" experiences: real student stories
More about how others can help: what do doctors offer?, what do counsellors offer?, what about other mental health services?
Find a UK university counselling service: Student Counselling in UK Universities