Q:I feel depressed all the time, and it's getting worse. Sometimes, I cut myself, and I've even thought about suicide. Can you help me?A:
It is SO important that you have reached out to us. Because we happen to care very much about what happens to you, even though we've never met! It's really normal to feel sad sometimes or really overwhelmed by what you're dealing with as a teen. But hurting yourself, or even considering killing yourself, is never, ever the answer.
If you seriously feel like you might try to kill yourself, please do one of the following:
Call 911. 911 is for emergencies. And if you are thinking about killing yourself, it's an emergency. The folks at the other end of the line will be able to get you help immediately, so don't hesitate to pick up the phone and call.
Call 1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433) or 1-800-HIT-HOME (448-4663). These are 24-hour, toll-free hotlines that are staffed by trained counselors. Sometimes we feel really bad and think that it would be better if we just didn't feel anymore. Some people think that translates into suicide, but suicide is NEVER the answer. So call one of the hotlines, and talk to a caring counselor to figure out what your other options are. (If you need a different type of hotline, check out Sex, Etc's list here.
Get to a counselor or therapist. Before you even get to the point of thinking about hurting yourself, try to get to a trained professional who can help you deal more effectively with everything you have going on. You can ask your parents to connect you with a counselor or a therapist, and you don't necessarily need to tell them why you want to see someone. You can just tell them that there's a lot on your mind and you think that talking with someone could help. You can also find a counselor by talking to your school counselor or asking him or her for a referral to another counselor. Or try this Web site to find a professional counselor near you.
Now, hurting yourself without trying to commit suicide is also something you need to take action on and stop. Some people try cutting as a way to feel better and have ended up cutting too deep. They end up trying to or successfully committing suicide without even meaning to.
You need to know that you are not alone in cutting or hurting yourself. And we are not alone in saying that it needs to stop. There are self-injury and self-mutilation Web sites with people telling their own stories. But, as they all say themselves, these sites cannot substitute for the help of a trained mental health professional.
Remember, you took a brave step forward by just visiting our Web site and clicking on this question. This means that you can take the next step--reaching out to someone close to you, so you can start to feel better.
