If you’re reading this because you’re having suicidal thoughts, try to ask someone for help. It might be difficult right now, but it’s important for you to know that help is available and that you’re not alone.
If your life is in danger and you’ve seriously harmed yourself (for example, if you took a drug overdose) or you feel that you might be about to harm yourself, call 999 for an ambulance or go straight to your nearest Emergency Department (or ask someone else to take you there).
Whatever you’re going through, there are free and confidential services that can help you at any time:
Samaritans
Call 116 123 for free. The phone line is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. You can also email jo@samaritans.org.
Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM)
Call 0800 58 58 58 – 5pm to midnight every day. You can also visit the webchat page.
Grassroots
Grassroots offers a free Stay Alive app which offers help and support both to people with thoughts of suicide and to people concerned about someone else.
Childline
For children and young people under 19. Call 0800 1111 – the number will not show up on your phone bill.
HOPELineUK
A confidential support and advice service for anyone under the age of 35 who might be having thoughts of suicide. You can call 0800 068 41 41, text 07786 209697, or email pat@papyrus-uk.org. Opening hours are 10am-10pm weekdays, 2pm-10pm weekends, and 2pm-5pm Bank Holidays.
Further support
If you’ve been affected by suicide, there’s information about support on our suicide bereavement section, or if you are worried about someone else, read Samaritans’ tips on how to support someone you are worried about.
To learn about Portsmouth’s approach to suicide prevention, read through the 2022-2025 Suicide Prevention Action Plan for Portsmouth.