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If your friend has taken pills or hurt themselves

hand_with_pill

Get help now

Call an ambulance if someone has seriously hurt themselves or taken pills or take them to casualty at your nearest hospital. Stay with them until help arrives.

Even if your friend asked you or made you promise not to tell anyone - call an ambulance. Your friend may be mad at you for a bit - but it's more important to keep them alive and well.

For an ambulance, if you live in Australia, dial 000. If you live outside Australia look in your local phone book for the emergency services number. Calling an ambulance if your friend has taken an illegal substance does not mean that the Police will be involved - their main concern will be to make sure you friend is OK.

If they have taken a substance, no matter what they took, get help now. It is not always obvious at first what damage they may be doing. Get them to casualty immediately.

Managing your reaction

It can be normal to feel shocked, scared or sad. It is important that you deal with the feelings and reactions you are having so that they don't become overwhelming.

Talking to someone you trust may help you to manage how you are feeling. You may want to talk to a friend or family member, or it may help to talk to someone like a counsellor. For more information about how a counsellor may be helpful check out the Who can help you section.

The Benefits of talking to someone fact sheet may also help you to decide whether it is worth speaking to someone about how you are feeling. You may also want to check out the Coping with a stressful event fact sheet for more information.

Understanding why someone would want to try and hurt themselves may be tough. It may be helpful to check out the Deliberate self-harm fact sheet or the Worried about a friend who is self-harming fact sheet.

  • This content was created by Reach Out Australia.
  • Last updated 28 Jun 09

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3 Comments

Alphabet

5 months ago

Reply Report

This can be a very hard thing to do. I have been in the position at whilst at the time you may either freak out and think that your friend may hate you or you do not know what their reaction would be, it can all become a bit overwhelming.


I guess the thing that helped me the most was that if i was ever in a position like this, i would want my friend to do the same thing because there are stages when you are incapable of making choices or logical one's that will be of benefit to you. So if my friend called an ambulance on me, at the time id be annoyed/angry/upset but you know its only because they care about you and it may help you recieve the level of treatment that you actually need.


Tina Mckinstry

about 1 month ago

Reply Report

ive been in this situation .... she had taken alot of pills to kill herself...she was a doctor ...... my doctor .. and family friend...... and i found her and was real scared ... and she died ........  shame....  it got me real depressed i did the same thing a few wks later .........  im still here ....... still haunts my head .....

Roisin - RO Crew

about 1 month ago

Reply Report

Hey Tina,

I am really sorry to hear about your friend.  If you would like to talk to someone about everything you have been through why not try giving kids help line a call on 1800 55 1800, or try lifeline on 13 11 14.  These services are really friendly and 100% confidentail and anomynous. 

I also suggest that you take a look at some more of the fact sheets and stuff on our site,  this one has some great tips for dealing with your feelings after a stressfull event so that they don't become overwhelming: http://au.reachout.com/find/articles/coping-with-a-stressful-event

I hope some of this info helps

All the Best
Roisin- RO Crew

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