Tell an adult you trust
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.
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
Get bullied at school or bullied online
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:
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."
This content was last reviewed 14/02/2018
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