Christmas When You're Suicidal — Getting Through This Day

If you're struggling with suicidal thoughts at Christmas, you're not alone. Holidays are statistically a high-crisis time. Help is available.

Get help NOW

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

Call or text 988
24/7
Free; confidential
Trained counselors

Crisis Text Line

Text HOME to 741741
24/7
Free; confidential

Emergency

911 if immediate danger
ER if needed

International

iasp.info/resources/Crisis_Centres
International crisis resources

Tell someone

One safe person

A friend
Family member
Therapist

Brief; honest

"I'm struggling"
"I need help"
Brief; clear

Strategies that help

Don't be alone

Be where people are
Even just sitting in coffee shop
Don't isolate completely

Skip alcohol

Worsens depression
Disinhibits action
A specific specific A specific specific A specific specific A specific A specific specific stay away

Get outside

Brief walks
Sunlight
A specific specific A specific A specific specific A specific A specific A specific A specific specific specific helps

Use crisis lines

They're there for this
Free; trained
A specific specific A specific A specific A specific A specific A specific A specific A specific A specific A specific specific use them

When family is hard

Limited time with toxic family
Brief; protective
A specific specific A specific A specific A specific A specific A specific A specific A specific specific specific specific not your responsibility to fix

What NOT to do

Suffer alone
Engage in family drama
Drink to cope
Make big decisions today
Skip your medications

After Christmas

Get connected to care

Therapist
A specific specific A specific A specific A specific A specific specific psychiatrist if needed
A specific specific A specific A specific A specific A specific A specific A specific A specific A specific specific specific specific A specific A specific don't wait

Build support

Friends; family who get it
Support groups
A specific specific A specific A specific A specific A specific A specific A specific A specific specific A specific A specific don't go alone

You matter

The world is better with you in it
A specific A specific specific specific A specific specific A specific A specific specific A specific A specific specific specific A specific specific even when hard to feel
A specific specific A specific A specific A specific A specific A specific A specific A specific specific A specific A specific A specific A specific specific A specific your life has value
A specific specific A specific A specific A specific A specific A specific A specific A specific specific A specific specific A specific A specific A specific A specific specific A specific please stay

Cross-references

For Christmas mental health pre-holidays — broader.

For Christmas with mental illness — adjacent.

For Christmas anxiety and stress — adjacent.

For Christmas alone tips — adjacent.

If you're struggling: call 988 now. You're not alone. Help is available. Please stay.