Sometimes friends who are hurting ask too much without even knowing it. And if they start talking about hurting themselves or dying, you need to tell an adult right away. But if you think they’ve got an eating disorder or another serious problem, then they need more help than you can give. That’s hard to do if you feel like you’re going behind your friend’s back. If their feelings of depression or anxiety go on for weeks, it may be time to tell your parents or theirs. But they may be too depressed to join in when you ask, and that’s okay too. Being with other people instead of alone is good for them. This is especially true if your friend is going through something like a breakup. Sometimes getting your friend involved in something social and fun can help. You can help by just listening and saying something like: “That sounds really hard.” Listening is an important way to show that you care. And teens tend to turn to their friends rather than parents for support. The teenage years are when a lot of mental health problems show up.

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