Young people: Worried about a friend?

Young people can contact FRASAC at any time if they are worried about a friend. We have worked with young people who are worried because their friend has been raped or sexually assaulted; or they think someone is grooming their friend or putting pressure on them for sex; or threatening to post an explicit photo for everyone to see. These are common forms of sexual violence which can affect many young people.

Young people often tell us that they don’t know what to do, what to say, or how to help. You might know that something is wrong because your friend has told you, or just have a feeling that things aren’t quite right. It’s great that you want to help, because your friend may feel upset, confused, angry and/or hurt. You might feel the same sorts of things. You may know the person who has hurt or is threatening your friend. It’s quite often a mutual friend - someone in the same group of friends or club or class at school.

It can be really hard if a whole group is ganging up on your friend; or if your friend is worried about being outed because of their sexual orientation; or if they are from a very traditional community. You might be worried about these things too. There are things you can do to help your friend. But remember it’s OK for you to feel upset too. And there are limits to what you can or should do. You (or your friend) can phone the FRASAC and speak to us without giving your name. If you think you would like one to one support for your wellbeing you can refer yourself to our therapeutic service by calling 01592 642336 or email info@frasac.org.uk.

Information for Young People Supporting Friends from Rape Crisis Scotland