Suicidal thoughts (also called suicidal ideation) are the mental experience of contemplating or wishing for one’s own death, often accompanied by feelings of hopelessness or emotional pain.
Tips & Links
Chronic health conditions often bring additional emotional and physical challenges, increasing the risk of depression and suicidal thoughts, so open conversations can ensure timely intervention and promote overall well-being.
Learn More
- Learn about suicidal thoughts, feelings, symptoms, and treatments from HelpStartsHere from the Government of BC.
- Learn about the warning signs of suicide such as hopeless, high anxiety, isolation, withdrawing from friends and family, risk taking, and more from Healthlink BC.
- Learn about suicide prevention for yourself or someone you are caring for from the Canadian Mental Health Association.
- Know there is a 8–9–9 Suicide Crisis Line you can text or call for yourself or someone you care about at any time 24/7.
For Suicide Help
- For you or someone you care about – text or call the BC Suicide Crisis Helpline at 9-8-8.
- To learn about what to expect – go to their website and watch their video at 988 Crisis Helpline.
- If you or someone you care about talks about feeling helpless or is showing warning signs of suicide, find help right away. Call the BC Suicide Crisis Helpline at 988 or call 911.
Things You Can Do
- Reach out to people close to you are feeling depressed or isolated.
- Explore ways you want to decrease feelings of loneliness and isolation for yourself and others from Healthlink BC.
- Talk about prevention of suicide with your care partners. Make sure you seek treatment, build social connections and networks, and develop coping skills for your emotional health. Check out more ideas for youth from HelpStartsHere from the Government of BC.
- Write or talk about a ‘safety-plan’ with your health advocate or someone you trust. An important part of ‘who are you going to call/text for what’ – include a contact or two for your mental health and wellness.
Find More Support
- Check out the list of virtual mental services including how to get immediate help, free or low-cost counselling, workplace supports, and targeted services for youth, students, seniors, and indigenous people from the Government of BC.
- Call BC211, a free, confidential helpline that can connect you to a wide range of mental health resources and services available in your area.
- Check out HelpStartsHere.gov.bc.ca from the Government of BC for a comprehensive list of walk-in clinics and resources.
- Find a clinical counsellor, psychologist, or art therapist who can provide counselling or therapy listed by Counselling BC.
- Explore the list of emotional health and counselling services provided by ‘Pathways’ from the Doctors of BC.
- For youth 12 -24 years of age – find support for your emotional health at the Foundry.
- Check to see if you have Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) at your workplace which offers confidential counselling services.
- For students, ask if your university or college offers free, confidential one-on-one sessions for students in crisis.