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Helping a Friend
One of my close friends has been self-harming and I'm really worried for her! I talked to her about it and she said it was better than killing herself, how can I help?
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Re: Helping a Friend
Hi @Jdjaas and welcome to ReachOut
I've moved your post to a different section of the forums so that more people are likely to see it and share advice. I also edited out the details of self-harm as it is against the community guidelines (here).
It is great that you want to help your friend, I wanted to check that you're feeling okay too, it's important that you take care of yourself as well. Reachout has some great articles on helping friends here that you might find useful. Have you or your friend spoken to anyone else, for example a teacher or parent, about these feelings?
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Re: Helping a Friend
Hey there @Jdjaas you must be so worried for your friend. @N1ghtW1ng posted you to a good resource. In addition, unfortunately some people do resort to self harm as a coping mechanism. There are techniques they could begin to look at as an avenue around self-harm, for example some people stretch or use the rubber band technique. SCBS and Sane Australia are two really good helplines than can support you whilst you're helping your friend through this, you don't have to go it alone. And of course we are here to listen as well.
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Re: Helping a Friend
Hi @Jdjaas
Perhaps encouraging her to seek help from a teacher or a counsellor would be a good way to go. Offline supports i beleieve would be beneficial.
Headspace also has information about helping a friend. They also offer counselling sessions so perhaps that could be something to suggest to your friend and also for yourself. They are equipped in dealing with young people and have heaps of resources for those our age. Ive linked the page to helping a friend however if you browse around im sure youll find some more information suited to you.
Also KidsHelpline have alot of information on how to help yourself as well as helping a friend.
Id reccomend these services. Please take care of yourself too and keep talking here
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Re: Helping a Friend
Hey @Jdjaas,
Everyone has already suggested a bunch of awesome resources so I don't have much to add, but I just wanted to say that you're a really wonderful person for wanting to support your friend unfortunately we're not always able to fix our friends' issues (often that requires professional help) but it's surprising how helpful we can be just by being there for someone, listening to them and reassuring them that we care
No human being, however great or powerful, was ever so free as a fish
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Re: Helping a Friend
To all,
Thank you so much for your advice, I truly appreciate it! It means so
much that you have gotten back to me so quickly, and want to help! I
will admit that it does affect me, mainly emotionally, but as long as
I stick with her I can help! And with amazing people like you helping
me, I can do it. Once again, thank you so much
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Re: Helping a Friend
@Jdjaas no worries!
Also it's totally normal for something like this to affect you emotionally. What are some things that usually help you de-stress?
No human being, however great or powerful, was ever so free as a fish
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Re: Helping a Friend
Things to check out:
Check out our Weekly Wellbeing: Self-care challenge
Create your own comfy spot to de-stress here
2021 Not Yet What You'd Hoped For? We hear you. Chat about it with us here
We're having a slow-mo GR all about being kind to ourselves!
Seen something awesome on the forums?
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