Helpful Tips for Teens - How do I help a friend in trouble?

Young people tend to turn to their friends first when they are in trouble. Would you know what to do if a friend told you that they were thinking about hurting themselves or someone else? What about if a friend confided in you that they had a drug problem?

The first step in being a good friend in these situations is to ask yourself the question, “How serious is the risk?” Most situations will fall into one of three categories:

Emergency

These are dangerous, high-risk situations that need immediate professional attention. For example:

George is angry with the school and all the “uncaring” kids. He’s been talking about bringing a weapon to school. He shows you the weapon.

In an emergency situation, the best response is to get immediate assistance from an adult and/or call 911.

Crisis

These are situations that have the potential for danger within the next few hours or days. For example:

Mike is giving his stereo to you for helping him with his problems and he has seemed depressed lately. He says, “ Material things don’t mean much to me anymore. I won’t need this. You won’t have to bother with me anymore.”

In crisis situations, its important for you as a friend to talk to a caring and concerned adult as soon as possible in order to get information and develop a plan to help your friend.

Problem

These are situations where your friend needs help, but the risk of danger is low. For example:

Susan comes to you in tears. A group of students have been teasing her and yelling insults at her as she passes them on her way into school.

In problem situations, your friend needs someone to talk to who cares and will listen to what they need. Someone who will not tease or make fun of their situation, judge them or gossip about what they have said. They need someone to believe in them, share some hope and be a good friend.