Healthy Schools: suicidal thoughts
Use the resources below to help support children and young people you know or suspect is having suicidal thoughts.
Find all Healthy Schools resources here
If someone is having suicidal thoughts
If a child or young person reveals that they're having suicidal thoughts:
- listen
- take them seriously
- help them feel that they're not alone
- identify the level of risk
- signpost specialist support and support them to access that support
It doesn't increase the level of risk to talk to someone about their suicidal thoughts.
If you think someone is at immediate risk, make sure:
- they're not left alone
- potential risks are removed
Then seek urgent help (external site) immediately.
Understanding suicidal thoughts
Rethink Mental Illness has produced a series of resources that can help you better understand suicidal thoughts and how to support children, young people and families.
- Warning signs that someone feels suicidal (PDF, 147KB)
- What makes someone think of suicide? (PDF, 103KB)
- Helping someone who feels suicidal (PDF, 219KB)
- Suicidal thoughts - key points (PDF, 94KB)
- Is there greater risk of suicide if someone has poor mental health or self harms (PDF, 142KB)
- Advice if you, or someone you know, is supporting a person with suicidal thoughts, or who has attempted suicide:
Support for the Supporter (PDF, 128KB)
You can also check our Self-harm page for more information on this topic.
For families
YoungMinds has excellent information and support online (external site) if a child or young person expresses suicidal thoughts or feelings,
Signposting families
Resources to help
Support After Suicide
The Support After Suicide Service is for people who have been bereaved by suicide.
Find support online (external link) or via email, below.
Email
supportaftersuicide@rethink.org
- Leaflet for sharing:
Support after suicide (PDF, 6MB)
More resources
Check our Mental wellbeing page to know how to recognise the signs of poor mental health and how to start conversations about it. If you're having a tough time, please look at our Staff wellbeing page.