New information leaflet for people in distress

Embargoed until 31 July 2012

The Royal College of Psychiatrists has published a new leaflet to help people who are in great distress.

The leaflet, Feeling overwhelmed – helping you stay safe, is aimed at people who feel like they have no control over their life and who may be thinking of harming themselves. It encourages people to find someone they can trust and provides a detailed list of support organisations. The leaflet also explains clearly and simply how to make a ‘safety plan’, to help organise people organise their thoughts and get the right support at the times they need it.

Dr Alys Cole-King, a consultant liaison psychiatrist who authored the leaflet, said: "Thousands of people are overwhelmed every day, but is possible to find ways to get through these intense feelings. Distress can be a sign that you need to change something in your life, and this leaflet has been written to show people that there is always hope and there is always help."

Feeling overwhelmed – helping you stay safe is the second in a special series of leaflets produced by the College to help people who are distressed, are experiencing suicidal thoughts or thoughts of self-harming. The first leaflet, Feeling on the edge? Helping you get through it, was published in March. A third leaflet, called U Can Cope, will be published in August.