about suicidal feelings

Nearly everyone has times when they feel very down and can't see a way out, but for a few these feelings are so deep and intense they may lead to attempts to end their life. A very depressed person can feel so intensely negative about life they cannot see the point in carrying on.

Due to the number of changes they are going through, both hormonally and in life, young people can be particularly vulnerable to feeling suicidal.

They can feel very scared of the future, anxious about career and academic pressures, overwhelmed by worries about personal relationships and sexuality, and can feel pressurised by peers into risky behaviour, including or drug and alcohol abuse.

Young people who lack support and the practical experience to solve problems can sometimes feel no-one will be able help them and that killing themselves is the best way out.

The risk of suicide is higher when a young person:

• Is depressed, or when they have a serious mental illness
• Is using drugs or alcohol when they are upset
• Has tried to kill themselves a number of times before
• Has planned for a while about how to die without being saved
• Has a relative or friend who tried to kill themselves.