Mind Matters Youth Resource Hub
Helping a Friend
How to notice concerns, listen safely, connect someone with help and protect confidentiality.
Educational information: This page supports awareness and self-help. It does not diagnose a condition or replace assessment by a qualified health professional.
Your role is to support, not diagnose
A caring friend can reduce isolation and help someone reach appropriate support. A friend or Youth Ambassador should not attempt to diagnose a condition, provide therapy or manage a serious crisis alone.
Notice
Changes that may deserve attention include withdrawal, persistent sadness or fear, sudden behaviour changes, hopeless statements, major sleep changes, substance use or talking about death or self-harm.
Ask
“You do not seem like yourself lately. Would you like to talk?”
“How have you been feeling?”
“Do you feel safe right now?”
“Have you been thinking about hurting yourself?”
Listen
- Stay calm and give full attention.
- Listen without interrupting or judging.
- Take the person seriously.
- Do not use blame, shame or simple statements such as “just be positive.”
- Do not promise secrecy when someone may be in danger.
Connect
Help the person contact a parent, guardian, teacher, counsellor, psychologist, doctor or emergency service. Offer to stay with them while they make the call.
When there is immediate risk
Do not leave the person alone. Remove access to obvious means of harm where it is safe to do so, involve a responsible adult or professional, and contact Rescue 1122, Police 15, Edhi Ambulance 115 or the nearest hospital emergency department.