Friendships are among the most important relationships you’ll have in your life.

Many of your golden memories probably include times you’ve spent with friends.

A friend is someone who:

But having friends can be hard work sometimes, when they get on your nerves or when they’re going through a tough time.

Not knowing what to do or say to help them can be frustrating and emotionally challenging. However, doing your best to make them feel better shows you care about being a good friend.

How can You be there?

1) Listen – try to understand the situation from your friend’s point of view. This way you’ll know the right sort of questions to ask and they’ll know you care about how they feel.

2) Advice – Don’t assume your friend wants advice because sometimes all they need is someone to listen. If you feel out of your depth, advise them to talk to a professional, and offer to be there to support them. Check out the face-to-face help section for more on what help is out there.

3) Protect them from themselves – if you think a friend is taking serious risks, like experimenting with drugs or alcohol, you may need to act without their consent to get them help. If you’re worried about your friend’s reaction, just remember it’s because you care about them and don’t want them to get hurt.

4) Show you care – if your friend is going through a tough time, write them a letter or a poem showing how special they are to you. Remind them that no matter how tough things get, you’ll be there for them because that’s what friendship is about.

5) Keep in touch – if you can’t physically be with your friend when they need you, send them an email, chat to them online or make a quick phone call to show you’re thinking about them.

6) Don’t forget yourself – supporting a friend through tough periods can put pressure on you, and it can help to talk to someone about it. This might be a teacher, counsellor, family member or another adult.
 Check out the services explained section for more details on who to contact for help, for you or your friend.

7) Know your limitations – there’s only so much you can do for a friend going through serious problems. You can’t fix everything, so if professional help is necessary, encourage your friend to seek it out.