My freind is really worrying me. She keeps talking about killing herself and that she doesnt want to live anymore. She has told me and her other close friend that she has moved her suicide date closer. I dont know wether i should tell my mum, a teacher or even the police? But then i feel guilty because she doesnt want to be alive anymore. Im really scared and i dont know what to do. Please help me.
Sam
Hi there,
Thank you for writing to me. It sounds like you're really concerned about how your friend is feeling. You are a really good friend to have taken the time to ask advice about what you can do to help her.
Suicide affects lots of young people in different ways. Some people experience suicidal thoughts, others (like you) are worried about a friend who is suicidal. It is really positive to speak out and get support when you are affected in anyway by suicide. Our pages about suicide tell you some more about how it can affect people.
It sounds like you are really worried about your friend as she doesn't want to live anymore and has bought her suicide date closer. I am worried about your friend too and I wonder if she might be able to talk to a Childline counsellor about her thoughts and feelings. The counsellors are there to listen to and support young people perhaps you could tell her about Childline.
You have mentioned perhaps telling your mum, a teacher or the police but I can see that you are worried about breaking your friend's trust. I think it is really important that you do talk to someone, and all the people you have suggested sound like good people to talk to. They should be able to help make sure your friend gets the support that she needs right now. You can find out more about asking an adult for help as well as more about helping a friend.
Often when people dont want to live anymore they can find it really hard to see any positives in their life or realise that things can get better. By talking to a trusted adult you could help your friend get the right support to start to see a way forward from her current feelings.
It is also really important that you are supported too. Knowing that a friend is feeling so low can have an impact on how you think and feel. Childline is here for you too. You may find the message boards useful to see how other young people have dealt with similar situations.
I hope this has helped and please do think about talking to one of our counsellors.
Take care, Sam
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