Call 12356 if you’re depressed or having suicidal thoughts; don’t keep sleeping pills or pesticides at home
Removing lethal means from immediate reach is a practice supported by increasingly strong evidence. Following the regulation of analgesics, related suicides decreased by 43%, and installing protective barriers in frequent jumping locations led to an 86% decrease. Therefore, do not stockpile sleeping pills or pesticides at home. When feeling hopeless, first call 12356; it is available nationwide in China and operates at least 18 hours a day.
There’s no cost involved. You just need to make one phone…
A recent review of nearly a decade’s worth of research finds that the evidence for limiting access to lethal m…
There’s no cost involved. You just need to make one phone call. Plus, lock away any medications and keep pesticides out of the house.
A recent review of nearly a decade’s worth of research finds that the evidence for limiting access to lethal means continues to strengthen. After controls on painkiller availability were put in place, suicide cases tied to these drugs fell by 43%. Installing protective barriers at common suicide hotspots reduced rates by 86% (the 95% confidence interval ranges from 79% to 91%). School-based cognitive programs had an odds ratio for suicide attempts of 0.45 (OR 0.45; 95% CI 0.24–0.85). Suicide attempts are rare, so the odds ratio is close to relative risk, corresponding to about 55% lower risk. Antidepressant medications and psychotherapy are also key components of suicide prevention. Starting May 1, 2025, the 12356 helpline will be available nationwide in China, operating at least 18 hours each day.
Zalsman G 等 (2016). Suicide prevention strategies revisited: 10-year systematic review. Lancet Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(16)30030-X ; 国家卫生健康委 (2024). 关于应用"12356"全国统一心理援助热线电话号码的通知（国卫医政函〔2024〕259 号）. https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202412/content_6994470.htm
Open source linkRated B because Most evidence regarding means restriction comes from ecological studies, which compare figures before and after policy implementation. There is no evidence that the hotline itself reduces mortality rates. The impulse to commit suicide often lasts only minutes to hours; moving lethal objects one step further away is, in itself, an intervention. For data on this time scale, as well as long-term outcomes following an attempt, see item 32 of this section (when suicidal ideation first arises, tell someone nearby). For what remains after being rescued, see item 33 of this section.