Self-Injury & Crisis Lifeline CALL or TEXT (988). For a suicide helpline outside the U.S., visit Befrienders Worldwide
how can I help my friend?
What do I do if I discover that my friend is self-harming?
By agreeing to stay silent, you are giving permission to continue self-injury.
What do I do if my friend asks me not to tell anybody?
Do not be an enabler!
Should I keep the behavior secret?
The road to recovery begins by breaking the code of silence.
You can save a life by reaching out to a trusted adult.
Your friend needs professional help!
In the long run, your friend will thank you for caring and helping
Telling someone about your friend’s secret will be one of the most difficult decisions you will ever have to make. Your friend might become angry when learning that you have "betrayed them” or “gotten her in trouble" by telling parents, a teacher, a school counselor, or any other trusted adult.
By telling an adult that you are worried about your friend's cutting, you are making an active decision to save your friend's life. Even if your friend gets angry with you–tell her that because you are a friend, you are NOT going to play any part in the destruction of a best friend's life.
Most importantly, tell your friend that you love them, that they are important to you, and that you would want them to do the same for you if the roles were reversed.
A good friend can help save a life!
If you know any one that has any of the suicide warning signs to learn more please visit: Youth Suicide Warning Signs.