It is SO important to reach out to someone after you read this. It’s normal to feel sad sometimes or overwhelmed by what you’re dealing with as a teen. But when this interferes with your life—cutting yourself and thinking about suicide—you need to know that although you cannot stop your feelings, you can identify feelings of depression with proper help. There are professionals that can help you work through your feelings of hopelessness.

If you feel like you might try to kill yourself, please do one of the following:

• Call 911. 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 you feel really bad and think that it would be better if you just didn’t feel anymore. Some people think that translates into suicide, but suicide is not the answer. 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 our list.
• Get to a counselor or therapist. Try to get to a trained professional who can help you deal more effectively with everything you have going on. You can ask your parent(s) or guardian(s) to connect you with a counselor or a therapist 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.
• Tell a trusted adult or peer-helper at school. People who care about you want to help you, but may not know how you’re feeling inside. Tell them, and keep telling until someone picks up the phone and connects you to someone who can help you.

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 can end up cutting too deeply. Not to mention that cutting often happens when you don’t have any other outlets to help you cope with life. There are counselors and therapists who can work with you to identify healthy alternatives to dealing with your circumstances. You are not alone in cutting or hurting yourself. There are self-injury Web sites and hotlines you can call to talk to someone about how you’re feeling before you cut. Call 1-800-DONT-CUT (366-8288).

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 so you can start to feel better.