Worried about a friend?
You don’t need to have the perfect words. Showing up, listening and helping them connect with support can make a real difference.
If your friend might act on thoughts of suicide right now, stay with them if it’s safe, and call or text 988, or call 911 in an emergency.
Five steps you can take
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline describes five action steps for helping someone who may be struggling:
- Ask. Ask directly how they’re doing, including whether they’re thinking about suicide.
- Be there. Listen without judging, and let them know you care.
- Help keep them safe. If you can, help reduce access to things they could use to hurt themselves.
- Help them connect. Help them reach a trusted adult, a school counselor, a doctor, or a crisis line like 988.
- Follow up. Check in again after a few days. It shows you still care.
Take care of yourself too
Supporting someone can be heavy. You don’t have to keep a friend’s safety a secret, and it’s okay to ask a trusted adult for help. You can call or text 988 for advice about helping someone else.