Advice Request

This person has been trying to help their friend out for a long time, but it doesn't seem to work.

Answered Submission

I want to start out by letting you know that you're a great friend.

The truth is that there is not much that you can do.

You can lend people a hand, but you can't force them to accept it.

It seems like you have tried to do everything in your willpower, but, if I were you, I would continue to try to help her see that it isn't the end of the world if she asked her parents for help. Have you told her that, if she has other trusted adults in her life, she can reach out to them instead? They can take critical actions from then on.

All you are to do from now on is continue supporting her and reminding her of the strength she has. Let her know that she has many resources around her that deems her worthy enough to help her and be her backbone through her suffering. If she makes excuses up, then talk to her about it in a way that can make her see your point of view on the subject at hand. It's also important to constantly let her vent when she needs it. Further, ask her about any news in her life. Don't ever think that you aren't doing enough. If things escalate, then please reach out if necessary. You can report a person's Wattpad account for self harm, and you can always report a hotline yourself and inform them of the problem your friend is having. If anything, reach out to us, and we'll try to help.

The above might not seem like the right answer, but, sometimes in life, we run out of options—not because we don't have any but because we've tried them all.

If you need anything, please contact us again. We won't hesitate to help out.

Best,

The Advice Column Team