Hi there,
Thanks for getting in touch with me - I can hear how concerned you are about your friend.
There could be several reasons why your friend doesn't have the same amount of stuff as everyone else. People from different backgrounds live different lifestyles sometimes this is by choice and sometimes its because of their circumstances. It would be important not to assume anything and for you to be careful you don't embarrass or upset them.
It might put your friend on the spot if you were to ask them directly why they wear the same clothes each day, but there are other ways to find out more and to show youre concerned. You could ask more general questions about their family and what its like at home for them. If they seem uncomfortable or give very short answers then that could be a sign theyd rather not talk about it and you should respect that. It might help them feel more comfortable if you were to share what its like for you at home as well the things you like and dislike about it.
If you still feel concerned then you could always talk to a trusted adult about your worries. Someone at school might be able to keep an eye on what's going on and will know what to do if they feel something is wrong. You could also take a look at our page about helping a friend.
Having someone else on your mind can be really tough, so don't forget you can always talk to someone at ChildLine by calling 0800 1111, sending an email or talking to a counsellor via our 1-2-1 chat. Remember you don't have to cope with things on your own.
Take care,
Sam
You can talk privately to a counsellor online or call 0800 1111 for free.
You can ask me about anything you want, there's nothing too big or small. I read every single letter but I can only answer a few each week. My replies are published here on my page.
