Supporting your friend

It can be really challenging to support a friend who is going through something tough. This can feel especially hard if you know your friend doesn’t have support networks at home, or aren’t willing to open up to their family about how they’re feeling. It’s important to know that you aren’t alone in wanting to help and there are a number of things you can do to ensure your friend gets the support they need.

understand how your friend may be feeling

Arming yourself with information is a good first step in understanding what your friend may be going through after a loss or trauma. We’ve linked below some handy resources which give a good overview of mental and physical symptoms your friend may be experiencing right now.

Grief & Loss

Trauma

A traumatic event is something that threatens your life or safety, or the lives of people around you. It is an experience that is stressful and has a significant impact on your emotional state.

how do I talk to my friend?

Concerned your friend is going through something but unsure how to bring it up with them? Try The Check In, a free app for anyone who wants to check in with a friend but is concerned about saying the wrong thing or making the situation worse.

The app takes you through four steps, getting you to think about where you might check in, what you might say and how might you support your friend. There is also a section showing you things to consider, such as what if my friend denies there is a problem or what if I say something silly.

After you have had your conversation you can go back into the app and rate how it went. The app will then give you advice on the next steps.

Alternatively, Beyond Blue have some tips and tricks to help you broach difficult conversations.
https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/support-someone/how-to-talk-to-someone-you-re-worried-about

how might I be able to help?

It’s important to recognise that you alone will not be able to fix your friend’s problems. The burden of your friend’s mental health is not for you to carry alone, and there are many people who can help whether that be at school, at CFNC, or in the wider community.

Supporting your friend through a loss or traumatic event can be difficult to navigate. LifeLine have put together a great resource for family and friends on their website.

Even if your friend is not a CFNC member, we are here to help. Contact one of our Wellbeing Officers to get support.

Supporting someone to see a mental health professional

Supporting someone to see a mental health professional can be difficult. It's important to keep encouraging them to seek professional support after you've had a conversation with them about their mental health.

Supporting your friend to see their GP is a good first port of call. Their GP is able to refer them to other services and can also help to create a mental health plan with them. If your friend has any concerns regarding the cost of such appointments please reach out to CFNC as we can help with this.

You might support them by offering to attend an initial appointment alongside them, or stick with them on their mental health journey by continuing to check in. Beyond Blue provides some guidance on their website.

If you think your friend is suicidal

It can be frightening and distressing when someone you care about is experiencing thoughts of suicide.

Beyond Blue has resources which can help you recognise common suicidal warning signs, start a conversation with someone you’re worried about and make a plan to keep them safe.

People who have thought about suicide say the most important thing family, friends and colleagues can do is listen, show they care, and offer support.

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/mental-health/suicide-prevention/worried-about-someone-suicidal

Aways remember that you do not need to take on the burden of supporting your friend alone. Make sure you reach out to LifeLine on 13 11 14 for support or call 000 if you think it is an emergency.