If somebody told you something?

Question

If your friend told you something, and asked you not to tell anyone, what would you do? I'm not talking about something tiny and insignificant that wouldn't matter that much if it got out. But something really serious, like if they were self-harming. If they told you that because they needed somebody to talk to about it, but asked you not to tell anybody, would you tell someone? Like your friend/parent or someone like that who you think could help them. Or not tell because you can see the person really doesn't want you to?

Answer 1

I would try to talk to her and help her first and if it continued then i would tell an adult to get her further help. I know lots of people that have commited suicide, She may just need some attention, thats what she is asking for

Answer 2

Well, generally speaking, I tell everyone who is told by anyone that they cut themselves to tell someone who can help.

Saying that you absolutely must do that would be hypocritical of me.

My best friend cuts herself and I've never told anyone, mostly because it's common knowledge.  Even her parents know.  No one does anything about it and at least she hasn't done anything stupider yet.

Answer 3

talk to your friend and try to get them to stop, and if this doesn't work tell her'his parents.

Answer 4

Personally I would tell a parent because sometimes you can't trust friends. I would tell my parent because it would be hard to keep something like that to myself. My parents could help her/him or get someone to help her/him. In the end he/she probably would thank you especially if it's something terrible that could really hurt him/her or isn't healthy. It's really up to you follow your heart. Do what you think is right.

Answer 5

I was in this situation late last year.  I was the "teller" and my best friend did tell my Aunt and Uncle for my own safety.  Yes, I was very angry at first, but I look back now and I'm glad my best friend said something.  My health and life could have been in serious trouble if she hadn't.

If someone told me somethng that I believe would put her/his life in danger, yes i would tell.

Answer 6

well how would you feel if she continues to harm herself until she kills herself and you were the only one who could have done anything to stop it?

Answer 7

i would tell the parents because if it is self-harming your friend could die or something really bad can happen to your friend. She might be mad at you for A while but at least your saving your friends life i know you dont want something bad happening to your friend make the right decision you never know what can happen.

Answer 8

you need to find the singlemost trustworthy person like someone she would have told if you didnt exist. her mom?

yeah tell before its too late trust me the saddest funeral is a suicide funeral. go read some stories.

Answer 9

i would honestly tell on them. if they were a true friend, i would want to get them help, even if they hated me forever for it. i already had a friend commit suicide, and i can't handle something like that again. it was the worst thing ever.

Answer 10

ok well if u dont want tell anyone because shes ur frend but u also do want to tell someone cuz she can get hurt or hurt herself then try and talk her into telling someone who will know wat to do and if she wont go for tht talk her into wats wrong about wat shes doing! tell her wat shes doing WRONG

Answer 11

I would not break a confidence unless someone's life was at risk. Self mutilation is VERY serious and your friend needs to get some help. I did it for many many years, so I have firsthand experience and also know how hard it is to stop. If you need to talk about it please feel free to email me.

Answer 12

First you should talk to your friend. If they are harming themselves tell them they need to tell someone else, a parent  or trusted adult and offer to go with them. If they do not want too then you tell. Your friend may get mad at you but you may save her life! and eventually she will forgive you. But if something happens to her you will forever have that guilt on you that you could have helped her. Good luck and if you need anything else feel free to message me.

Answer 13

I wouldn't tell anyone.

They asked me not to, so why would I?

I would be there for them as much as I possibly could, but if it got worse then I would consider telling an adult.

Answer 14

i would tell cause if its "self-harming" that person needs help. i would recommnd  telling a teacher, parent, or guidance councilor. please tell someone if it is serious. u dont want someone doing drugs or getting pregnant or cutting them selves or drinking alcohol.  please tell someone!!!!

Answer 15

geez this is right up my ally. I was in the exact same position. hun, my bestfriend and I got into drugs, it wasnt to serious yet but I stopped and she wanted my help stopping but I didnt know what to do, I knew she would hate it if I told anyone, but for her own sake I did. I went to her sister to try and get her help making my friend quit, my friend hated me after that because her dad was told and she got in trouble. but Im just happy that atleast she was forced to quit and she is safe.

Answer 16

depending on how serious, i might tell

Answer 17

Why would you want to tell someone if that is not a big deal. All it will do is lead into a fight.

Answer 18

i would try to help them myself but if i couldnt i would tell someone who could help.

i was in the situation more then once and actually still am. i have told my thearpist once bc my friend told me she was thinking about hurting herself bad. and i got numbers and gave them to her and now shes doing better.

also i have been helping another friend out who has other problems.

it just depends on what they told me and if i could help them without getting others involved

Answer 19

Well if I was being told by my friend the same thing then I wouldn't tell anyone but I would try and talk to them myself and try to get to the root of where all that is coming from and try to convince them to get help or rather let me help them myself.

But really if you told someone when they told you to not speak it to anyone it could possibly make the problem worse and not help them in any way.

If you are the person in question then I would suggest you let the friend you told read this.

Answer 20

I might tell someone, but only after consulting and persuading the friend for all I am worth and more.

Answer 21

Well, if I was the person I'd probably tell someone who could be discreet about finding the other person help. Like maybe someone the other person already trusted.

My cousin was in that situation (she's a cutter for a number of reasons), and her older sister finally told their parents what had happened to them a few years before her younger sister's suicide attempt. My one cousin was terribly angry with her older sister, but in the end it's much better for her, as she's getting counseling and hopefully will be better soon and they're good friends again.

So...this is where I'm coming from. =)

Hope this helped.

Answer 22

if you were good enough friends with the person that they felt comfortable telling you what was happening then you definitely wouldnt want to loose them to a life endangering thing they were putting themselves in. defintely tell someone but not a friend tell an adult that wont go off telling other people and you know you can trust to help your friend. when told not to tell anyone theres exception for if they tell you something thats harming themselves or someone else.

Answer 23

Don't tell anyone just yet. Help this person as best as you can. Be their friend, and comfort them. DON'T feel sorry for them because being pittied just makes people feel worse. Try and relate their problems with your life and your problems. Sometimes all it takes to make someone feel better is knowing that someone can relate to them, and that they aren't alone. If that doesn't work, then definitely tell someone.

And if you are the one telling your friend about your self harm problem:

Talk to your friend about your issues. See where it gets you. It probably will make you feel better to talk about your problems. And if your friend does tell someone, don't be angry at them, because it is a serious problem, and all they want to do is help you.

I hope this helps.

Answer 24

if it's like cutting, then you should tell. look at it this way, would you rather them die as you keep their secrete or could save them. If you rather not tell a parent or friend tell a counselor.Then the friend could get help. you need to tell.

Answer 25

It would depend on what they told me. If they were cutting themselves or something else "self harming" I would probably tell someone.

Answer 26

I'd probably tell my parent(s) for a conversation starter and they probably wouldn't care at all.  They don't get involved in my life that kind of way. I wouldn't tell my friends because I don't trust them to keep secrets.

Answer 27

i use to do self-harm, and if thats what your friend told you, or whatever, you should tell someone, even if your friend hates you for it at the moment. tell a school councler, good place to start, bc if you wont answer that youve been cutting yourself they actually have the right to send you to the doctors and have you checked (trust me) from there, she will probably go through awful amounts of counceling, but after its all over, you two will be very close and she will be much much happier. also... very important!!! my councler said that self-harming is actually an addiction to self-mutation! it gets worse and worse after every cut.

Answer 28

ive had a friend tell me she was self harming before. i didnt really believe her too much (she has a history of lying) so i didnt tell anyone. however, if it was a friend that i knew was being honest, i would have told her parents (if they are the understanding type). if your friends parents arent understanding when it comes to that kind of thing, i would tell someone that you both trust.

Answer 29

I would tell. I could not wait around for something bad to happen, it would kill me.

Answer 30

If its something serious like suicide I would have to do the moral right thing and save a life. I would tell someone and I'm sure they might hate me for it but I know in my heart I did the right thing and later on they'll say "thank you" for being a friend.

Answer 31

it depends. if they realy need help as in drugs or something, then yes but if its something they can deal with themselves then relax and let it go.