"Suicide - a permanent solution to a temporary problem."
-- Phil Donahue

I understand you're feeling desperate and hopeless, but before doing anything, please read this, and use the links at the bottom of this page.

10 reasons not to commit suicide

1. If you’re reading this, there is at least a small part in you that doesn’t want to die. Listen to it, and please read on.
2. Suicide is final – once it's done, there’s no changing your mind. Since you have even the slightest of doubts, you owe it to yourself to stay alive.
3. You can always kill yourself later, why not wait? Even if you wait just one day, you may find a reason not to kill yourself in the meantime.
4. If you’re feeling suicidal, you’re probably in more pain than you know how to handle. There are ways to reduce the pain, and ways to learn to deal with pain. You can learn both - either way things will get better.
5. Just because you’re feeling suicidal doesn’t mean you have to act on that feeling.
6. Consider this – if you’re trying to escape from the pain you are in and seek relief, suicide is not the answer. You cannot feel relief, or anything else for that matter, if you are dead. You must stay alive in order to feel the relief you seek.
7. Often when feeling suicidal you feel alone. You are not alone – you found us didn’t you? Turn to your family or friends or a priest or a rabbi – anyone that will listen. If you don’t know whom to turn to, use the links on the right-hand side of this page to find resources that can help.
8. By terminating your life right now, you terminate your future. Consider this – we create our own future. You have the power to create whatever future you wish for yourself. But you need to be alive in order to have that future.
9. If you’re sensitive enough to be in so much pain that you no longer want to live, you’re probably sensitive enough to care about, and want to help others. Maybe you don’t feel like helping anyone else right now, but why not help yourself? And perhaps by not killing yourself and overcoming your difficulties you can later help someone else who is in a similar situation.
10. Finally, don’t do it because I’m personally asking you not to. Whatever you’re feeling, whatever you’re going through, things can get better – I know because I’ve been there. Maybe I haven’t experienced exactly what you have, but not only have I thought of suicide, I tried it – thankfully I was unsuccessful and I can speak from personal experience when I tell you things can get better.

For immediate support, try calling one of the hotline numbers in our directory. You can also read stories of others who have felt suicidal and you'll see that you are not alone. Finally, browse our list of suggested reading and links or explore the other sections of our site where you can find more help on various topics. I also strongly recommend you seek out professional counseling, which can help you cope with whatever distress you are feeling.