Counselling Directory
0
menumenu
Are you a counsellor? Log in Join us
Find a counsellor
  • Home
  • What's worrying you?
  • Getting help
    • What is counselling?
    • Types of therapy
    • FAQs
    • Find a counsellor or psychotherapist
    • Worried about someone else?
    • Not sure where to start?
    • Self-care
  • Articles
  • Events
  • Facts & Figures
  • News & Stories
    • Recent news
    • Your stories
Log inJoin us
Saved profiles (0)
  • Home>
  • News & Stories>
  • Recent news>
  • "You've got a friend in me"

“You’ve got a friend in me”

November 30th, 2016
When your friend is going through a difficult time, it can be hard to know what to do.
You've got a friend in me

Worrying about a friend can be especially tough if you’re young. What can you do to help someone when you don’t understand what they’re going through?

No matter what age, when confronted with a friend in need, we look to ‘a grown-up’ for support, but what can you do when this isn’t an option?

If your friend has come to you for support, there are a number of things you can do to help them and show that you care. Whether you have gone through a similar situation, or have never experienced such sadness, you can be there for them.

What can you do to help?

Whether your friend has had a loved one pass away; are experiencing illness or a condition themselves, going through a time of self-exploration or they are being bullied/struggling at school or college, the first thing to do is to remind them that you are there.

Going through a hard time can be very lonely. Your friend may feel like they are the only person in the world to feel this way, and that there is no way out. Give them the opportunity to talk about how they feel and listen. They may not want you to offer advice, so just listen. Simply getting it off their chest can make them feel better.

Make them smile. Distraction is always a good thing – if they are spending more time alone or are becoming less social than normal, offer to take them out one-on-one. Do things that make you both laugh and smile, this can help remind them that they won’t feel sad forever, it’s just a bump in the road that will make them stronger.

If you want to talk to them about what’s going on, but are not sure where to start, write a letter or pull them aside and ask how they are. Be sure to do this privately as they may not want to draw attention, but asking if they are OK can often remind them that people care. They may react in a way that shocks you, try to brush it off. People react differently when their mind is elsewhere.

If there is something specific affecting them, do your research. If you are concerned, looking further into what they may be feeling can help you understand. Improving your knowledge on the situation can help you know what to do, and what support is available.

Similarly, if you’re really worried about them, talk to someone. You don’t need to tell the person your friend’s name, but getting advice from a professional, a teacher, a doctor or a parent can help you know what to do next. Helping a friend can be a huge responsibility, so be sure to take care of yourself first.

Offer to be with them every step of the way. If it comes to a point where your friend needs extra, professional support, be with them. This can be a big, nerve-wracking step for them, so be there to hold their hand and help them on the journey.

Tags: Young People
Share on: Facebook Twitter Google+ LinkedIn
< What would you say?
An interview with Rubyetc –...>
Find a counsellor or psychotherapist near you
Select multiple
Advanced search

Search blog

Get email updates

Related news

  • Self-esteem key to treating mental health, says study
  • Self-esteem in children

Categories

  • Abortion
  • Abuse
  • Addictions
  • ADHD
  • Adoption
  • Alcohol Dependence
  • Alzheimer's
  • Anger
  • Anxiety
  • Art Therapy
  • Asperger's Syndrome
  • Attachment Disorder
  • Autism
  • Bereavement
  • Bipolar Disorder/Manic Depression
  • Body Image
  • Borderline Personality Disorder
  • Breaking Barriers
  • Bullying
  • Cancer
  • Care Leavers
  • Career Counselling
  • Caring
  • Charity
  • Child Related Issues
  • Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
  • Chronic Pain
  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
  • Compulsive Hoarding
  • Counselling
  • Couples Counselling
  • Debt Management
  • Dementia
  • Depression
  • Disability
  • Divorce
  • Domestic Violence
  • Drama Therapy
  • Drugs/medication
  • Eating Disorders
  • Email Counselling
  • Exercise
  • Family Counselling
  • Feeling Sad
  • Gambling
  • Gender Dysphoria
  • Happiful Kids
  • HIV/AIDS
  • Infertility
  • Infographics
  • Internet Addiction
  • Interviews
  • Learning Difficulties
  • Loneliness
  • Long-term Illness
  • Low Self-Confidence
  • Low Self-Esteem
  • Media Opportunity
  • Mental Health
  • Mindfulness
  • Miscarriage
  • Music Therapy
  • News
  • OCD
  • Older People
  • Online Counselling
  • Online Safety
  • Parenting
  • Passive Aggressive Behaviour
  • Personal Experience
  • Personality Disorders
  • Phobias
  • Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
  • Post-natal Depression
  • Postpartum Psychosis
  • Press Release
  • Psychosis
  • Relationships
  • Schizophrenia
  • Seasonal Affective Disorder
  • Self-care
  • Self-harm
  • Sexual Issues
  • Sexuality
  • Smoking
  • Stress
  • Stroke
  • Student Series
  • Suicide
  • Telephone Counselling
  • Terminal Illness
  • Termination/Abortion
  • Tourettes Syndrome
  • Trauma
  • Uncategorized
  • Work Related Issues
  • Young Carers
  • Young People
See more

Archives

  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010
  • May 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • November 2009
  • October 2009
  • September 2009
  • August 2009
  • July 2009
  • June 2009
  • May 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009
  • January 2009
  • December 2008
  • November 2008
  • October 2008
  • September 2008
  • August 2008
  • July 2008
  • June 2008
  • May 2008
  • April 2008
  • March 2008
  • February 2008
  • November 2007
  • October 2007
  • September 2007
  • August 2007
  • July 2007
  • June 2007
  • May 2007
  • April 2007
  • March 2007
  • February 2007
  • January 2007
  • December 2006
  • November 2006
  • October 2006
  • September 2006
  • August 2006
See more

Interesting sites

  • BBC News | Health
  • Guardian
  • Independent
  • Medical News
Interesting sites
BBC News | Health Guardian Independent Medical News

print this pagePrint this page

Get involved Connect with us, we're social.
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
More information
  • About us
  • Recommend us
  • Legal terms
  • Privacy/Cookies
  • Browse by region
  • Press centre
  • Find a supervisor
  • Links
  • Site map
  • Site help

Contact us

  • Counselling Directory, Building 3
  • Riverside Way, Camberley
  • Surrey, GU15 3YL
  • Membership Services Team:
    0333 325 2500 *
  • Contact us
Copyright © 2018 site by Memiah Limited

* Calls to 03 numbers cost the same as calling an 01 or 02 number and
count towards any inclusive minutes in the same way as 01 and 02 calls.

Healthy ideas that change the world

Get our free monthly e-magazine straight to your inbox

Find out more at happiful.com