I’m Worried About Someone

If someone you care about is struggling, it can be hard to know what to do or say. You are not alone in this. Our volunteers are here to help you think through how to support them — call us any time.

📞 03-7627 2929 — free, confidential, available 24 hours every day
📧 sam@befrienders.org.my

What Can I Say?

Starting a conversation with someone you are worried about can feel daunting. Here are some simple things that can help:

  • Listen more than you speak — you don’t need to have the answers
  • Ask directly — it is okay to ask “Are you thinking about suicide?” It does not plant the idea; it opens the door
  • Avoid minimising — phrases like “things could be worse” or “you have so much to live for” can feel dismissive
  • Stay calm — your presence and willingness to listen matters more than what you say
  • Don’t promise secrecy — if they are at risk, you may need to get help

Safety Plan — For Someone You Care About

If you can, work through this safety plan together with the person you are worried about. If that is not possible right now, use it to help you prepare for a conversation with them. There are no right or wrong answers — just write what feels true.

Step 1 — Warning Signs
What signs have you noticed that tell you they may be struggling? (e.g. they have become very withdrawn, they seem to have lost interest in things they used to enjoy, they have said things that worried you)

Step 2 — Things That Help Them
What activities or routines seem to comfort them or lift their mood, even briefly? (e.g. going for walks, watching certain shows, being around their pet)

Step 3 — People and Places That Feel Safe For Them
Who do they feel comfortable around, or where do they tend to feel calmer? (e.g. at their parents’ home, with a particular friend, in a familiar environment)

Step 4 — People They Can Turn To
Who else in their life could they reach out to for support?
Person 1: __________________ Contact: __________________
Person 2: __________________ Contact: __________________
Person 3: __________________ Contact: __________________

Step 5 — Professional Support
These organisations are available to help — both for the person you are worried about and for you:
📞 Befrienders KL — 03-7627 2929 (24 hours, free, confidential)
📧 sam@befrienders.org.my
🚨 If they are in immediate danger, call 999 or encourage them to go to Accident and Emergency at the nearest hospital.

Step 6 — Reducing Risk in Their Environment
Are there things in their environment that could put them at risk during a crisis? If so, think about whether there is a safe and sensitive way to reduce access to those things, perhaps with the help of another trusted person.

Step 7 — A Reason That Matters to Them
What do you know about what gives them a sense of meaning or hope — however small? (e.g. their children, a hobby, a goal they have mentioned, a person they love)

Supporting someone through a crisis can be emotionally exhausting. Please remember to look after yourself too. If you need to talk — about them or about how you are feeling — our volunteers are here for you as well. Call us any time on 03-7627 2929.