Real Student Stories

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Picture of Anna After bouts of depression during 6th form and at uni, Andy found counselling to be a revelation despite initial scepticism, helping him recognise how earlier experiences had affected him... more > >

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

Students Against Depression
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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
(External) 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:

Challenge yourself about what is stopping you seeking help .
Make an emergency appointment with your doctor .
Read more about surviving suicidal thoughts and other info on this site about suicide (see below)
Consider making an appointment at your campus counselling service.
Read about how others have dealt with their suicidal thoughts (see real student stories ).

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: (External) Student Counselling in UK Universities

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Real Student Stories

Desperate right now?

What to do if you are feeling actively suicidal now:

Other things to consider:

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