Do you know someone who needs help?
	Do you need someone to talk to? Have you lost a loved one to suicide? Do you know someone who needs help? Would you like to help us? More information about Befrienders List of useful contacts	We’re here to listen to whatever you need to say. Call us at 03-7956 8144/5 or e-mail at sam@befrienders.org.my You may be worried about someone who always seems to be unhappy, mentions suicide or has withdrawn from contact with other people. You may be worried about a partner, a child, a parent, a friend, a co-worker or a neighbor. You can tell if a friend is going through a tough time if he or she • Avoids friends and activities. • Talks about wanting to die. • Can’t sleep. • Is moody, teary or quiet. • Starts neglecting his or her appearance. • Appears to have no energy or no appetite. • Expresses feelings of despair, hopelessness and helplessness. • Tries to cut or hurt himself/ herself. • Starts giving away personal possessions. • Makes statements like ‘It’s my fault’ or ‘I won’t be around to face…’ What can you do to help You can do a surprising amount with very little effort. Listening saves lives. Be there with them and be prepared to listen. • Approach your friend and let him/ her know you have noticed. • Ask about his/ her well-being. • Listen to his/ her problems and feelings. • Be accepting, do not judge. • Be patient and gentle. • Show that you care. • Ask openly and directly if he/ she is thinking of harming himself/ herself. • Take threats seriously. • Get help. • Call BEFRIENDERS. What you should not do • Don’t offer empty words or reassurance. • Don’t give up on your friends – maintain contact with the person at risk. • Never assume that talk of suicide is simply a manipulation for attention. • Don’t think that having previously failed an attempted suicide will prevent someone from another attempt. • Don’t minimize your friend’s pain. Being close to someone who is in distress can be very hard. We are also here to support you and listen to your concerns and fears. Confidentiality The Befrienders offer absolute confidentiality. Nothing that our callers say or write to us ever goes beyond the Befrienders - whatever the circumstance, age of the caller or state of mind. There are no exceptions to this rule. Our policy of absolute confidentiality also means that if asked, we will neither confirm nor deny whether someone is in contact with us. This confidentiality is absolute The Service The service that The Befrienders offer is called Befriending. Befriending is non-judgmental, confidential support that allows the caller to express his or her fears, worries and feelings to someone who has the time to listen. We offer this service in a number of ways: 24 hour a day telephone hotline Our hotline, (03) 79568144/5, is manned 24 hours a day, every day of the year by trained volunteers. There is no answering machine or automated response system on our hotline, so if you call us you will either speak to a Befriender or hear the busy signal. Please try again. All our volunteers answer calls in English, but many also speak other languages, including Chinese and Malay. Email Befriending If you don't want to call us, there is another way. You might prefer to write down how you are feeling than pick up the phone. Many people do. We can provide you with emotional support via e-mail at sam@befrienders.org.my
© The Befrienders 2006