Article:

Good Mental Health Messages: Friendship

What is Friendship?

It is an in-depth relaxed relationship combining support, communication, loyalty, understanding, empathy and intimacy, where you are able to trust and relax. However, you must be a friend to have one, no one can form a friendship until they realise that the basis of being friends is also about \ meeting the needs of the other person.

Building Friendship:

• Be honest. Being a true friend means being truthful.
• Be a helpful friend. Everyone needs help from time to time.
• Be there for your friends when they need you. It’s easy to be around when times are good but only the best of friends are then when the going gets hard.
• Don’t talk about your friends behind their backs unless you’re saying something nice.
• Be a generous, kind and caring friend.
• Be a forgiving friend. Everyone makes mistakes from time to time.
• Involve your friends in your activities and in your life.
• Tell your friends how you feel. Good friends can talk to each other about anything.
• Disagreements are ok. They don’t mean the end of the relationship.
• If you don’t hear from your friend that is ok. Sometimes we all need a little space.

Maintaining Friendship:

Is crucial and sometimes it is hard to make time in a busy day and busy life to have that one-on-one contact that is necessary for friends to continue.

You don’t have to have hours to spare to maintain a friendship, instead try the following:

Keep in touch:

• Call once a week. Telephone calls do not take long.
• Keep in touch through brief messages left on answering machines.
• Send pictures (a picture is worth a thousand words).
• Send frequent emails. They are quick and very easy.
• Send an occasional card.

Do things together :

If you live close to each other:
• Go to lunch at least once a month, if you can.
• Exercise together. We all have to exercise and it is more fun with a friend.

Resources

Although these resources do not specifically relate to this article, they are very useful phone numbers/websites to contact for further information.

	Parent Line	13 22 89	www.vicparenting.com.au
	Kids Helpline	1800 55 1800	www.kidshelp.com.au
	Inspire Foundation		www.reachout.com.au

* Developed by the Primary Prevention In Schools Committee 2004.
For further information contact the Mental Health Promotions Officer, Ballarat Health Services – CAMHS (03) 53203030