Friendship: Just The Facts

Friendships make life a little easier

Having good friends can help boost your emotional wellbeing. Good friends do more than just make you feel happy, they are there for you when things get tough, and help support you in lots of different ways.

Friends come and go in our life and it doesn’t matter how long a friendship lasts, the most important thing is that your friend accepts you for you.

What makes a good friend?

• A good friend is there for you no matter what, and will always have your back when things get difficult
• A good friend will comfort you when you are upset or crying
• A good friend will laugh with you and make you smile
• A good friend is kind, respectful and listens to you
• A good friend is trustworthy and willing to tell you the truth, even when it’s hard for you to hear
• A good friend will encourage you to be a better person and inspire you to achieve more in life
• Most importantly, a good friend is someone that you enjoy talking to and spending time with

While most friendships are positive, sometimes we have people who we think are friends, but can make life a little difficult.

What type of friend is this?

• Someone who will talk about you behind your back or could even share your secrets with others
• Someone who will pressure you into doing things that you don’t want to do, and could force you into making bad decisions
• Someone who will constantly judge, question you or make you feel bad about yourself
• Someone who won’t be there for you when you need support or advice
• Someone who could take advantage of you, and only talk to you or hang out with you when they want something

Someone like this is no friend at all.

Having good friends is important, but it’s also important to be a good friend in return. You should aim to be the type of friend that you would wish to have.

How can I be a good friend?

• Make time for your friends and be a good listener, offering advice and support when needed
• Be trustworthy and keep your promises and secrets as best you can
• Apologise if you have made a mistake. Remember, not everyone is perfect and mistakes happen, so be willing to work through any disagreements or arguments
• Just be yourself and accept your friend for who they are
• Be respectful of your friends opinions, beliefs or feelings
• Encourage and support your friend, and help them grow as a person
• Look out for them even if it means getting support from others to help keep them safe. This might be difficult to do and your friend may not like it at the time, but they will be grateful of your support later on

Remember: Good friendships can help in many ways, from improving your mood to supporting you through difficult times and everything in between. Some friendships will last longer than others, but all friendships play an important part in your life.

How to get help

If you have any more questions on this area or would like to speak to somebody about this topic, have a look at the links or search for your local services in the blue box below. Alternatively you can always contact your school nurse.

• w: Childline- Friendships
  
• w: YoungMinds - Friends and family