The reasons why someone may feel suicidal are often very complex and may be linked to mental health conditions such as depression. But there are things that make it more likely for you to have suicidal thoughts:

• Something has happened in your life that has upset you. Perhaps you are being bullied, or you have not got the exam results you wanted. Perhaps you have split up with a partner, or someone close to you has died.
• Your life has changed and you are finding it hard to cope with. Perhaps you have recently retired, or your family has just left home. Perhaps you are having financial difficulties.
• You have been drinking heavily or using illegal drugs.
• Someone close to you has taken his or her own life.
• You are suffering from a medical condition called depression.

Sometimes there is no single, clear reason why you are thinking about suicide. A run of small problems or bad luck, or simply a gradual build-up of hurts and pressures over time can wear you down until you begin to have suicidal thoughts. It is important to realise that different people react to things in different ways. For some, thoughts of suicide enter their head. Most of these people don't really want to die, but suicide may seem the only way out from their problems or an end to the unhappiness they are feeling. In this state of mind it is often difficult to think clearly. Things may look totally out of proportion.

Some groups of people are known to be at particular risk of suicide as they have unique difficulties to face. For example, elderly people are more likely to have to deal with the death of loved ones, loneliness, and ill health. Depression in older people tends to be overlooked in favour of treating the physical conditions that come with old age. As a result, the suicide rate among the elderly is much higher than in the general population. Other groups at risk include:

• those with serious mental health problems, such as severe depression or schizophrenia,
• those who may feel isolated within our society. Gay men and lesbians, students, the homeless, immigrants, old people, and those in prison are at particular risk,
• those who use illegal drugs or abuse alcohol,
• those who have suffered sexual or physical abuse, and
• those who have attempted suicide or self-harmed before.

Since 1991 there has been a 6% decrease in the suicide rate in the UK, but there are still between 5-6,000 suicides each year. This represents 8.6 suicides per 100,000 of the population, or one suicide every 88 minutes. Suicide is more common in men than women across all age groups - 75% of suicides are by males. In the 25-44 age range men are 4 times more likely to kill themselves than women.

Young men are at particular risk of suicide - suicide rates amongst young men have doubled since 1985. Men aged 25-34 are at highest risk of suicide, followed by men aged 35-44. Suicide is the most common cause of death in men under 35. In 2000 there were almost 700 suicides by young people - nearly 2 every day. Research by Samaritans suggests that only 1 in 5, 16-24 year olds with suicidal thoughts would seek help from their GP.

It is estimated that at least 140,000 people attempt suicide each year in England and Wales. One in five people who attempt suicide will try again, and 10% of those who try again will eventually take their own life. Approximately 19,000 young people attempt suicide every year. Research shows that many people who take their own life have the medical condition depression. In Britain, 3-4% of men and 7-8% of women have moderate to severe depression at any one time. The National Suicide Prevention Strategy was launched in September 2002 with the aim of reducing the number of suicides in England by at least a fifth by 2010.

Depression is the most common reason why someone may have thoughts of suicide and most suicides are linked to depression in some way. If you are feeling depressed or suicidal it is important that you visit your GP. They can offer you a range of treatments, such as antidepressants, or 'talking therapies' like counselling or cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). There are things you can do yourself that can help you fight thoughts of suicide as well as more general feelings of depression. They are intended to give you ways of coping with feelings of loneliness, unhappiness, or sadness:

• Above all, you should try to remain connected with the world around you and avoid feelings of isolation. This is why talking to someone you trust about how you are feeling should be the first step that you take. Keep up with your friendships and interests, even though you might not feel like it at times.
• Try to find things that will take your mind off negative thoughts. This might be making sure you are with people you like, taking a hot bath, doing some deep-breathing exercises, or treating yourself to some of your favourite food.
• Try focusing on the good things you have done each day rather than the bad. It may help to imagine yourself in a happy situation - seeing your favourite band, meeting your favourite movie star, eating your favourite meal, or sunning yourself on a beach.
• Exercise can stimulate your mind and body and help fight off depression. Daylight and sunshine can help put you in a brighter mood so try to spend time outdoors. Make an effort not to go to bed until your normal bedtime and find things to do that give you some structure to your day, like going for a walk each evening.
• Avoid alcohol and illegal drugs. They may give you a lift at first, but they can make you feel even worse in the long run as large amounts of alcohol act as a depressant. Also, if you drink a lot of alcohol or have taken certain illegal drugs you may make decisions you would not normally make.

Joining a self-help group can be a good idea. It can be a great relief to meet other people who are going through the same thing you are. It can help if you are feeling lonely or isolated and show you how other people have coped. Helping to support others can make you feel better about yourself too.

If you've had suicidal thoughts recently, or if you are feeling suicidal now, you should contact someone for help. There are telephone help lines with specially trained volunteers who will listen to you, understand what you are going through, and help you through the immediate crisis. Samaritans operate a service that is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Call 08457 90 90 90.

If you prefer to write down how you are feeling, or if you are worried you might be overheard talking on the phone, then you can email them at jo@samaritans.org.uk. Childline run a free help line for children and young people in the UK. The call is free and the number won't show up on your phone bill. Call 0800 11 11. If you don't want to speak to someone like this, you could also contact:

• a member of your family, a friend, or someone you trust like a teacher,
• your GP, a mental health professional, or other health care professional, or
• a minister, religious leader, or someone in your community.

Talking to someone can help you see beyond feelings of loneliness or despair and help you to realise that there are other options open to you apart from ending your life. Whoever you talk to now, you should also visit your GP. They will be able to advise you on treatment options if they think you are suffering from depression.

If you are worried that someone you know might be depressed or having thoughts of suicide, you should look out for signs of change in their personality and behaviour. The signs to look for include them losing interest in things they used to enjoy, unhappiness, lack of energy, spending a lot of time on their own, or a reluctance to spend time with other people.

If you see possible warning signs that someone you know may be thinking about suicide, it's a good idea to ask them 'Do you ever feel so bad that you think of suicide?' Don't worry that you might be planting the idea in someone's head. If they have been thinking of suicide they will probably be relieved to talk about it and grateful that you are willing to be so open and understanding.

If someone confides in you then you should listen carefully to everything they say and try not to judge them. Sometimes just being there and showing that you care enough to listen can help. You should reassure them that others feel like this too and that they are not alone in trying to cope with suicidal thoughts - there are people who can help them. If they won't talk to you, perhaps they would talk to a friend, or a relative, or perhaps they would prefer to write down how they feel.

If someone you know is feeling suicidal because they have depression, you can help by trying to understand something about the illness and how it can be treated. You should always try to persuade someone you think might be suicidal or depressed to visit their GP or to get help from a Support organisation.

It is important to look after your own health too. Knowing that someone you care about is feeling suicidal can be physically and emotionally draining. If you feel that this is too much to deal with by yourself then you should talk about it in confidence to someone you trust.