How to Help a Friend in Crisis

A friend in crisis is a friend in need. It's hard to turn your back on someone who need your help. To help a friend in crisis you need to first decide how important your friendship is to you as well as how far you are willing to you for this particular friend. Read on to learn more.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Patience
• A good heart

1. Be there for your friend. Be a shoulder for her to cry on, even if you can't be helpful in other ways.

2. Help your friend to safety. Make sure she is physically and emotionally on safe ground.

3. Be a voice of reason for your friend in crisis. Offer sound, logic-based advice since she probably won't be able to think that way under stress.

4. Help her get the resources she needs to get back on her feet. Provide phone numbers for government programs, help her get in touch with long lost family members and help her get legal advice, if necessary.

Tips & Warnings

• Treat your friend how you would like to be treated if the situation were reversed.
• Put yourself and your family first. Don't endanger yourself for a friend in need.
• Don't allow yourself to be used.
• Co-operate with authorities if the need arises.
• End the friendship if she only calls when there is a crisis situation she needs help with.