Being a good friend means being there for someone while they’re hitting some bumps in the road. It means offering love and support when you notice someone needs it the most. It can mean simply being a shoulder for them to cry on — but that can be hard to do when it comes to helping an online friend, someone you may never have met in person.

With everyone spending more and more time online, online friendships are becoming more and more common.Online is no longer just to maintain friendshipsmade at school or work, but also to forge entirely new ones with peers while browsing social networks or playing online games. Similarly, your feed is also likely filled with friends you haven’t seen or spoken to in years — fringe friends from high school, old acquaintances, and former coworkers — people who are far from your best buds, but whose startling posts or cries for help can make you worry just the same.

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Strengthen your relationship through couples therapy you can participate in together or apart, at your convenience.

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It isn’t always clear what you should do when you notice an online friend is in need. After all, the Internet is ripe with emotional oversharing; so when do you step in and how can you do it through a screen

The following tips are a guide for what to say to an online friend who needs help as well as resources for professional support, too:

How to be Supportive to an Online Friend in Need

Don’t worry about it not being your place

Reach out in private

Help provide options

Before talking to your friend, research resources available for dealing with the issue they are struggling with. Then, relay these options to your friend. There is always help available if you or a loved one are in need of support.There are many organizationsand hotlines available that provide 24/7 support for those trying to get help.

And, know that you don’t have to carry your friend’s burden alone. Just like you have an online bond,online therapymight be a great resource to your friend and is something you can suggest. Your online friend may appreciate the confidentiality that comes from a screen — after all, the internet is how you maintain your connection — and online therapy offers just that, but with a licensed therapist. When you first begin online therapy, you have the option to use a nickname or pseudonym with your therapist. While not required, it’s an option that may make your friend feel more comfortable with the therapeutic process.

Just listen

Your online friend may be posting troubling statuses or reaching out for help because he or she thinks they don’t have support and no one is listening. Let them vent and know they are being heard. Pay full attention to what they’re saying and reflect back what you hear. Whether in person or in writing, saying things like “I understand” and “I’m listening” will help validate that person’s feelings and make them be more receptive to your advice.

Give them hope

Don’t Let the Screen Be a Barrier

Our goal at Talkspace is to provide the most up-to-date, valuable, and objective information on mental health-related topics in order to help readers make informed decisions.

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