You never know when your friends might be having a bad day, week, month or even year. This is why it's important to be involved in most or every aspect of their life. Here are ways you can help them and be a better friend.
1. Make them talk.
Be that friend who asks very detailed questions when they are telling you what is bothering them. You could even constantly poke until they're bothered enough by it. Make them talk about it; they'll thank you later.
2. Shower Them With Gifts.
I can't think of a time when it didn't make me feel better to have a friend buy me something when I was upset.
3. Be honest with them.
It will make them feel better to see and hear someone else's opinion even if it disagrees with theirs.
4. Smile and be happy.
Smiles are contagious, and so is your energy. If you act like you're being bothered by their presence it can only make it worse.
5. Be sappy and give a pep talk.
I know this contradicts number four but do this first. Sometimes all people need to hear is, "I love you" or "You got this!"
6. Don't leave them alone.
If you think about it this way, this is basically like saying "I love you" one day and then "I hate you" the next. If you just opened up about having suicidal thoughts to a friend, and they just leave you all alone, it doesn't feel too good. Most people would consider it to be like being in a dark room with no one to talk to.
7. Give them advice.
Don't just say "yeah," "uh-huh" or "oh" to what they tell you.
8. Always root for them.
No matter what they do or have done always be by their side. This means continually loving them and being there for them through anything. No matter the circumstance or how it might affect you.
9. Hug them, wave to them or smile at them.
This sounds simple, but you could save someone's life by doing any of these and wouldn't you like to know you saved them? Fortunately they can tell you that if you do any one or all of these.
10. Answer that 3 a.m. phone call.
They wouldn't call you at 3 in the morning if it wasn't something important. They might have good news like they just got cast in a dream role on Broadway, but unfortunately it is usually that they are depressed. Answering this call could possibly help prevent them from dying by suicide.
11. If you can't commit to helping them, don't try.
This may sound harsh to some, but having been through this, it saves the friend a lot of heartache. You can still be their friend, but don't act like you can commit to helping them when you know you can't.
We can all find ourselves in a rut not knowing how to deal with it, and it helps to have people who will listen.
Friendship is something to cherish, so don't disappear when they need you most.
