We are born with the ability to take our own lives. Each year a million people make that choice. Even in societies where suicide is illegal or taboo, people still kill themselves.

For many people who feel suicidal, there seems to be no other way out. Death describes their world at that moment and the strength of their suicidal feelings should not be under-estimated - they are real and powerful and immediate. There are no magic cures.

But it is also true that:

	Suicide is often a permanent solution to a temporary problem
	When we are depressed, we tend to see things through the very narrow
	perspective of the present moment. A week or a month later, things may look
	completely different
	Most people who once thought about killing themselves are now glad to be
	alive. They say they didn't want to end their lives - they just wanted
	to stop the pain.

The most important step is to talk to someone. People who feel suicidal should not try to cope alone. They should seek help NOW.

	Talk to family or friends. Just talking to a family member or a friend or a
	colleague can bring huge relief
	Talk to a befriender. Some people cannot talk to family or friends. Some
	find it easier to talk to a stranger. There are befriending centers all over the
	world, with volunteers who have been trained to listen. If calling is too
	difficult, the person can send an email
	Talk to a doctor. If someone is going through a longer period of feeling low
	or suicidal, he or she may be suffering from clinical depression. This is a
	medical condition caused by a chemical imbalance, and can usually be
	treated by a doctor through the prescription of drugs and/or a referral to
	therapy
	Time is an important factor in 'moving on', but what happens in that time also
	matters. When someone is feeling suicidal, they should talk about their
	feelings immediately