Suicidal thoughts can occur to anyone at any point in their life. You may never have expected that you would be affected and you may be at a loss. Keeping yourself safe and letting someone know how you’re coping are important first steps in getting through a suicide crisis.

• Postpone any urge to end your life. You may find your mood changing if you wait for these feelings to lessen.
• Remove any objects in your surroundings that could be used to harm yourself on impulse. Alternatively, move away from these items.
• Stay around other people and let them know how you are coping.
• Keep the contact numbers of hotlines and people you are close with on speed dial. Call them just to hear a voice.
• Avoid drugs and alcohol. They intensify low moods and impair decision-making.
• If you feel you may be at immediate risk of harming yourself, call 995 or approach the medical facilities nearest to you such as General Practitioner (GP), Polyclinic or Accident & Emergency Department (A&E).

• Approach an adult you trust and with whom you are close to. It may be a family member, friend, community leader, teacher, etc.
• Tell them what you are thinking of, or at least how you are feeling. Let them know you are struggling and at a loss.
• Be prepared for their reaction. They will want to help but may be startled or react emotionally. Let them know you want to work things out and you want their help or support.
• Ask them to help you find additional support in person, online or on the phone.

If you are feeling suicidal, please reach out to us through the following support options:

• Call our 24-hour Hotline at 1767
• Message us via our 24-hour CareText via WhatsApp at 9151 1767
• Write to us via CareMail at pat@sos.org.sg

Losing a loved one to suicide can be a traumatic and devastating experience. You may feel like your world has fallen apart and you are left feeling empty, lost and confused.

Many survivors find it helpful to talk about their grief. But sometimes, it can be hard to turn to family and friends.

It’s also important to remember that:

• No one is ever prepared for the suicide of a loved one.
• You are not alone in this.
• Support is vital in the healing and recovery process.
• At SOS, we provide information, emotional support, suicide bereavement counselling and helping resources to those bereaved by a suicide death.

If you or someone you know has been affected by the suicide death of a loved one, please reach out to us through the following support options:

• Call our 24-hour Hotline at 1767
• Message us via our 24-hour CareText via WhatsApp at 9151 1767
• Write to us via CareMail at pat@sos.org.sg

• Specialist Counselling
  Suicide bereavement counselling is available for individuals who have just experienced a suicide loss.
• Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors (LOSS)
  SOS provides programmes that consist of emotional support, counselling and support groups to those who have lost a loved one or someone they knew to suicide.
• Healing Bridge
  A suicide bereavement support group for those who have lost a loved one or someone they knew to suicide.
• Healing Within
  A 6-session support group for suicide survivors. All registrants will need to go through an intake session to be assessed for suitability by our caseworkers.

If a friend tells you about their thoughts of suicide, you may be startled or react emotionally. Whatever your response, it’s important to try to remain non-judgmental and patient while showing genuine concern.

It may be a challenging and unfamiliar conversation to have but it might also be life-changing.

We’ve all been in the situation where advice is the last thing we need to hear. 

Instead, recognise their struggle or what they’ve just said and invite them to keep talking. A person would not bring up suicide unless they are going through an extremely distressing period in their life.

While listening, check on how they’ve coped and explore what resources they have tried so far.

Let them know that it’s absolutely alright to seek out other additional help they may require.    

They may already be thinking of reaching out to a mental health or counselling professional but may not know where to start. Offer to accompany them to make an appointment if necessary. Having someone there with them can help them feel less alone and uncertain.

Counselling which focus on the management of suicidality is available for individuals who have suicide thoughts/suicidal. This service is by appointment ONLY.

A 6-session closed support group which is structured and facilitated by counselling professionals. All registrants will need to go through an intake session to be assessed for suitability by our caseworkers.

Please reach out to us through the following support options:

• Call our 24-hour Hotline at 1767
• Message us via our 24-hour CareText via WhatsApp at 9151 1767
• Write to us via CareMail at pat@sos.org.sg

Together, we can be there for those in crisis or thinking about suicide.