"He's depressed and suicidal and I'm worried about him"

Counselors at Canada’s Kids Help Phone counseling service have discovered that a number of youth who call the crisis line call not for themselves, but because they are concerned about a friend. “A lot of them will say they want to help, but don’t know how,” said Jason Carey, Kids Help Phone Counseling Manager. About 6 percent of calls and online posts the organization receives are from children who want to help others, such as friends, siblings, classmates, or kids they have met through social media. In a survey conducted by Kids Help Phone, youth were asked what advice they would give to a friend who was worried about his or her mental health. A large majority were highly supportive, offering advice like “Talk to someone about it, get some help (59%)” or “I’ll be here/I’ll support you (15%).” “Kids often confide in each other before anyone else. They feel a responsibility to their friends,” said Carey. “They can’t be expected to know what to do to help their friends, but they know to come to Kids Help Phone for support.”