How to Guides
HOW TO ASK A FRIEND IF
THEY ARE OK
ReachOut: How to ask a friend if they're ok
R U OK: How to ask "are you ok?"
ReachOut: Helping friends
HOW TO BE LESS SOCIALLY
AWKWARD
ReachOut: A guide to conquering social awkwardness
Science of People: 8 Signs You’re Socially Inept & How to Overcome Awkwardness
HOW TO CALL A HELPLINE
ReachOut: How to call a helpline
ReachOut: What happens when I call a helpline
ReachOut: Online community
HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR MOOD
Kids Health: Choosing your mood
ReachOut: How to shake a crap mood
HOW TO HAVE A POSITIVE ATTITUDE (TEENS)
ReachOut: 6 Ways to be #Bodypositive
WikiHow: 9 Ways to have a positive attitude
WikiHow: 3 ways to stay positive in school
Divya Parekh: 5 Tips For Teens: How To Make Positive Thinking Easy
HOW TO COPE WITH THE
STRESS OF TRAUMATIC EVENTS
HeadSpace: How to cope with the stress of natural disasters
ReachOut: Dealing with bad world news
ReachOut: How to cope with anxiety about climate
Terrorism
Psychology Today: How to think about terrorism
ChildLine: Worries about the world
HOW TO GET YOUR PARENTS TO TRUST YOU
WikiHow: 3 ways to gain parental trust as a teen
WikiHow: How to get your parents trust back
HOW TO TALK TO ADULTS
1. Choose an adult you trust
e.g. parent, aunts/uncles, teachers, school counsellors, doctors etc.
Remember: if they are concerned for you, or someone else's welfare, they may need to reach out to a professional to guide them, and you.
2. Think about what you want from them - and tell them
e.g.
"Please I need to get this off my chest but I ask that you just listen and don't give me advice"
"Can you please give me some advice .."
"Can you please support me with .."
"Can you please help me solve [a problem]"
"Please help me get to [professional help or another help source e.g. teacher]"
Remember: if they are concerned for you, or someone else's welfare, they may need to reach out to a professional to guide them, and you.
3. Think about how you feel about telling this person and use that feeling in your words
e.g.
"I'm afraid you may be mad at me .."
"I feel ashamed about this .."
"This is really embarrassing but .. "
4. Practice - think about what you want to say, you can write it down, and say it out loud
5. Choose a time when they are not too busy or too distracted
e.g. talking in the car can be a good time
Note: It could be a good idea to set up a time with them beforehand, especially if they are a teacher or school counsellor.
6. Don't like face-to-face .. You can use YourCrew to text, share your safety plan, share a page in your journal, use the 'don't have the words' function (found in the emergency button) and even call a member of your Crew
Other:
https://au.reachout.com/articles/how-to-have-difficult-conversations
HOW TO TALK TO PEOPLE YOU ARE HELPING
1. Listen. It is incredible how having someone actively listen to you and accept how you feel about something helps someone solve their own problems or recognise, sometimes with your help, the need to speak to parents, a doctor or other professional service.
2. Validate their feelings. You don't have to agree but try and put yourself in their shoes and understand how they feel. Let them speak without interruption. Reflect back what they have said to you without giving your judgement. e.g.:
"That sounds like a terrible thing you have been through..."
"I understand why that would make you feel this way."
3. Communicate your support - let them know you are here to support and help them.
"I can help you get the help you need, let's go and talk to ..."
"Do you want me to help you talk to your parents?"
"I'm here for you to talk to whenever you need."
If this a really difficult topic for you, say:
"This is bigger than both of us. I would like to ask an adult for help" or
"This is bigger than both of us, I think we need to make an appointment with [GP, psychologist, school counsellor or other professional]"
You can also call KHL, or 000 if an emergency, and ask their advice
4. Give praise.
"That was really brave of you to tell me about ..."
"I'm so honoured you have chosen me to talk about .."
5. Show trust. Show them you trust how they feel and involve them in coming up with their own solutions. e.g
"I can understand why you feel bad about that. How could you handle that conversation differently next time?"
6. Control your emotions. If what they tell you is difficult to hear, take a deep breath and let them finish. Try not to judge or show disapproval or shock. If you need help refer to 7 below.
7. Professional Help. If you feel uncomfortable with the topic or it is something you feel needs professional help. Tell them
"This is bigger than both of us, I think we need to make an appointment with [GP, psychologist, school counsellor or other professional]"
Help them get to the help they need.
8. Look after yourself. Sometimes it can be hard to support someone. It can also trigger some feelings in you that you find hard to cope with. Make sure you have a good support network around you - set up your own Crew - and talk to them if you need support.
HOW TO LOOK AFTER TEENAGE SKIN/ACNE
WikiHow: How to improve the look of your acne
WikiHow: How to get rid of teenage acne
HOW TO MAKE FRIENDS AT SCHOOL
WikiHow: Make new friends at school
Teen Vogue: How to make friends in high school
HOW TO SAY SORRY TO YOUR MUM
WikiHow: How to say sorry to your mother after a mistake
HOW TO STAY FIT AND HEALTHY AT SCHOOL
WikiHow: How to stay fit in middle school
WikiHow: 5 ways to get fit as a teenager
HOW TO TALK ABOUT YOUR MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS
Health Direct: How to talk about your mental health
Think Mental Health: How to start the conversation
LOST SOMEONE TO SUICIDE HANDBOOK
Help Guide: Coping with a loved one's suicide
Beyond Blue: After a suicide loss
CMHC: Coping With Losing a Friend, Partner, Or Family Member to Suicide