Stories of lived experience of self-harm and suicide can encourage help-seeking, hope and recovery. If you're thinking of telling your own story online, it's important to make sure you're ready, and that it's safe and helpful for others.
Click on the cards below for more info.
Posting about your own self-harm or suicide thoughts, feelings, behaviour, and experiences can sometimes leave you feeling uneasy, anxious or distressed.
Sharing your thoughts, feelings or experiences
What are you comfortable sharing, and what do you want to keep private?
Examples of help-seeking, and stories of recovery can help others do the same.
This way, if someone who is self-harming or having thoughts of suicide sees your post, they have a clear way to find it.
If you do, plan how you'll moderate them and respond to people in distress. Share helpline numbers and chat services.
Avoid the what, how, when and where to protect people who are at risk of suicide.
If you need help, messaging someone directly can be a better way to get help than posting publicly, or on your feed or story.
☎️ Australian online and phone support services 📔 Social media platform resources
☎️ Call 000
For less urgent assistance, contact one of the following support services.
Provides free 24/7 telephone, online, and video counselling and crisis support to all Australians affected by suicide.
☎️ Call 1300 659 467
🌏️ Visit suicidecallbackservice.org.au
Provides free 24/7 online and phone personal crisis support and suicide prevention services to all Australians.
☎️ Call 13 11 14
🌏️ Visit lifeline.org.au
Provides free and confidential 24/7 phone and online counselling for children and young people aged between five and 25 years.
☎️ Call 1800 551 800
🌏️ Visit kidshelpline.com.au
Provides email, chat and phone counselling for young people aged between 12 and 25 years. eheadspace operates seven days a week, from 9:00am to 1:00am AEDST.
☎️ Call 1800 650 890
🌏️ Visit eheadspace.org.au
US-based links to various social media platform centres:
BeReal help center https://help.bereal.com/hc/en-us
Discord help center https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us
Facebook help center https://www.facebook.com/help
Instagram help center https://help.instagram.com/
Messenger help center https://www.facebook.com/help/messenger-app
Pinterest help center https://help.pinterest.com/en
Reddit help center https://reddit.zendesk.com/hc/en-us
Snapchat help center https://help.snapchat.com/hc/en-us
TikTok help center https://support.tiktok.com/en/
Tumblr help center https://help.tumblr.com/hc/en-us
Twitter help center https://help.twitter.com/en
WhatsApp help center https://faq.whatsapp.com/
YouTube help center https://support.google.com/ youtube/?hl=en#topic=9257498