If you’re feeling down about life choma, just know that you are not alone. Many teens go through feelings of sadness and loneliness but because they don’t talk about it, they often feel like they are the only ones experiencing it. However this is not true choma. Know that you are not going through this alone and you can get help.

What are suicidal thoughts?

Suicidal thoughts are the thoughts you have about ending your own life. You might tell yourself things like:

• No one loves me/wants to be around me
• Life would be better without me
• I don’t see the value in life
• I can’t live with so much pain
• I wish I hadn’t been born

Steps to dealing with these thoughts:

Find out what triggers these thoughts

When do you feel suicidal? Is it after you remember something painful or traumatic? After you drink alcohol or another substance?

A lot of the times, suicidal thoughts are actually a result of depression. Here are a few statements to determine whether you have depression or not. Are any of these true for you?  

• I constantly have feelings of guilt.
• I have no confidence
• I feel like a failure, I can never get anything right
• I feel like I’ve let everyone down
• I have no interest in doing things and would rather be alone
• I’m always restless, or tired,
• I can’t concentrate
• I can’t sleep or I’m always sleeping
• I engage in risky behaviour

If you have answered yes to four or more of these, and if they last longer than two weeks, you may have depression. Depression could be the reason you’re feeling suicidal choma. It’s important that you speak to your doctor or a councilor so that you can get help soon.

Take care of yourself 

It may not seem this way when you’re in this situation choma, but you are important and you are important to yourself. Focus on your positives and on a better future. Do little things for yourself that might make you feel better. Take care of your health and your hygiene. Don’t think of yourself as a bad person for the thoughts that you have choma. Feeling this way doesn’t make you bad. Depression can make you feel like you’re a bad person when you’re not and can make you act out of character. Understand that this is a symptom of the illness.

Get support

I know that talking about suicide and depression can be really hard choma, but you’d be surprised to hear how many people have gone through it and will know exactly how you feel. Talk to your friends and let them know how you feel. Talk to your family members about depression and let them know that you need their help. Talk to school councilors if there are any at your school. Or you could call these numbers for support:

Suicide Crisis Line
0800 567 567
SMS 31393

SADAG Mental Health Line
011 234 4837

Lifeline 24 Hour Counselling
011 422 4242 or 0861 322 322

Don’t be afraid to talk about your feelings. Many people have gone through depression so don’t feel like you will be judged for admitting how you feel. You can get through this choma, so no matter how you feel or what you’re going through know that there are ways to recover, through treatment and support.