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She's really upset and I dont know what to say

Hi Sam
my friend is really upset and I don't know what to say to her. She said to me that everything is blowing up at home and her best friend isn't there for her
Ask Sam

Sam

Hi,

Thanks for your letter.

Helping a friend can be really difficult, especially when you feel upset and unsure of what to say or do to help.

Sometimes the most important thing is to just be there for your friend. Being there to listen and support can let them know that you care about them. It sounds like your friend is able to talk to you about some of what’s going on - this is good as it shows that your friend trusts you and appreciates your support.

But having this information can also feel like a burden, especially if you are unsure what to do. You could try to ask your friend what type of help she would like and how best she would like you to support her. 

You could suggest that your friend asks an adult she trusts about the situation at home and the way she’s feeling. This could be someone like a teacher, family member or family friend. It can be tricky, but they can help to work out how to solve any problems that are going on.

If your friend doesn’t feel ready to talk to an adult at the moment, you could suggest that she talks to a ChildLine counsellor who would listen and look at options that might be available. 

It can be a really hard to support a friend through a difficult time, and I want you to know that ChildLine is also there for you and you can get support whenever you want to.

Take care for now,
Sam

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