Listen
Start with presence, not solutions.
- “I noticed you seem overwhelmed. How are you really doing?”
- “You do not have to explain everything, but I am here to listen.”
- Avoid judgment, comparisons, lectures, and taking control
REACH FOR A FRIEND
You do not need perfect words to show up.
Use the L.E.C.F. approach—Listen, Encourage, Connect, Follow Up—to care for a friend without carrying everything alone.
If your friend may be in immediate danger, call 911. For suicidal thoughts or a mental-health crisis, call or text 988 with them. Never promise secrecy when someone may be unsafe.
YOUR GUIDED PATH
Be a bridge, not the whole rescue team
Conversation scripts, safety referrals, and caring boundaries from the original friend-support journey.
Encourage
Reflect their strength without minimizing the situation.
- “I am glad you told me.”
- “This sounds heavy, and you deserve support.”
- “One hard semester does not erase everything you worked for.”
Connect and follow up
Help them reach the right person, then check back specifically.
- Offer to sit with them while they call financial aid, counseling, or 211
- Share one or two relevant resources—not a giant list
- Ask later: “How did the financial-aid call go?”
Know the safety options
Match the referral to the situation and protect your wellbeing too.
- 988: suicide and mental-health crisis
- 741741: text HOME for Crisis Text Line
- RAINN and the Domestic Violence Hotline for safety support
- You can care deeply and still set healthy boundaries
KEEP REACHING