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How can I tell my friends I’m ok and getting them to believe me?
Hi Sam,
recently ive been really struggling as ive been dealing with a lot of things at the start of 2025. ive been having suicidal thoughts, and self-harm. i feel very sad that i’m doing this to myself, and i feel even worse that my friends have found out and seen what ive been doing. i’m a bit better now, but my friends are still worried and scared. how can i tell them that im getting better and they dont need to worry?
Sam
Hi there,
It can be great when friends and others want to support you. It’s natural for people who care about you to worry and to want to make sure you’re okay, but sometimes it can feel hard when they’re not able to see when things are getting better. It can help to remind yourself that your friends want to be there for you.
When you’re talking to your friends, sometimes it can help to have an open conversation about their worries for you. Giving them a chance to talk about what’s worrying them and talking openly about how you’re feeling now can help them to see how you’re doing.
If you want to, it can sometimes help you and your friends to make an agreement about things you’ll do if you do start to feel worse again. Knowing you’ll reach out for support can help them to see that you’re feeling safer and make you feel more confident about the future. There are lots of ways to do that, for example you could make a mental health first aid kit with them to cover what you’ll do if you start feeling overwhelmed.
Suicidal thoughts and self-harm can be hard to cope with. Remember, if you’re ever struggling with feelings of wanting to hurt yourself, Childline is here to support you. You can get support from a Childline counsellor any time. They can give you a safe space to talk, and help you find ways to cope.
Take care,
Sam
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