Main Menu

My friend is thinking about suicide

When somebody wants to end their life it can be scary to talk about and you might not know what to do. We’re here to help.

Content Warning: this article contains information about mental health which may be distressing or triggering.

If someone you know is ending their life right now call 000

If someone has told you they have a plan to end their life, you are not alone

Call Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800, start a WebChat, or send us an email today. We’ll help you figure out what to do.

You’re worried about a friend - they’re acting different and something’s not right

Could they be thinking about suicide?  Here are some signs they may need help. They might:

Have problems at home

Talk about being unhappy with their life

Use drugs or alcohol to cope

Post stuff online about suicide or wanting to die

Stop talking to you about stuff and keep to themselves

Suddenly appear happy after being sad for a long time

Text/talk about not wanting to be ‘here’ anymore

“It can be scary when someone is thinking about suicide. 

We’re here to help you.”

It’s okay if you don’t know what to do - we can support you

When a friend wants to end their life here’s what you can do:

Tell an adult you trust
Call Kids Helpline
Tell the school counsellor or a teacher
Listen to them and show that you care

It’s okay to tell someone – even if your friend doesn’t want anyone to know

You’re not alone in helping them. You’re allowed to talk to an adult or Kids Helpline about it.

You might worry your friend will be upset if you tell someone, but it’s not up to you to make them better

Telling an adult shows that you care about them and want them to get help

An adult can help your friend figure out what’s wrong and show them how to get back on track

Take care of yourself too

You might be so worried about your friend that you forget about yourself! You might feel upset and need some help too. Here’s what you can do:

Talk to a parent or a friend and get things off your chest

Take your mind off it by doing things you love

Talk to a counsellor and learn ways to feel better

Plan something nice to do with a friend or family member

"Don't worry too much about saying the 'right' thing. The most important thing is your relationship with that person, not what you say. If in doubt, you can never go wrong with showing concern for someone."

Help is here if you need it

You’re not alone. Kids Helpline is always open. Plus it’s free!

Contact us by calling 1800 55 1800, starting a WebChat, or sending us an email.

This content was last reviewed 14/02/2018

Was this information useful?

Help us by rating this page:

Thanks for your feedback!

Thanks for your feedback!

Talking helps! We’re here for you.

No problem is too big or too small.
We're here 24 hours a day, 7 days a week