← When a Friend Is Struggling · Lesson 2 of 4
Early help is help
Many teens believe that telling an adult about a friend is a betrayal. HarborDojo says the opposite plainly: early help is help. A trusted adult can do things a friend cannot.
Talk about this before it is needed. Agree with your teen which adults they could go to, and make clear that telling you about a friend will not get anyone "in trouble" for being sad.
If you ever think a young person is in danger right now, call emergency services. In the United States the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline takes calls and texts, for the person who is struggling and for worried friends and parents; elsewhere, your local crisis line does the same.
Your teen says a friend made them promise not to tell anyone how bad things are. What is the most helpful thing to say?