I had problems in the past that made think about killing myself. I told my friend about this—that I used to be suicidal—and she flipped. Now everyone is calling me a psychopath! Is there some activity I can do to help with this situation?
Signed,
Sierra, 13, Tampa FL
It’s really unfortunate that you took the brave step to confide in your “friend” and she then handled your sensitive information in such a horrible way. Sierra, are those kids who are calling you a “psychopath” really your friends? To me, a true friend is one that I can trust with my deepest secrets. While the subject of suicide can be scary, it is certainly not the mark of a psychopath. It sounds to me like they are threatened by something they don’t understand, and calling it a name—any name—is the only way they can deal with it.

Other people in your situation may join a therapy group, speak with a counselor, parent or trusted teacher. Or they may just make a real effort to find more understanding and supportive friends! But there is no one activity that works for everyone. This is why it’s important that you give our helpline a call—so you can speak with someone at length, who is nonjudgmental (no one gets called a “psychopath” on the Trevor Helpline!) and has been trained to deal with this kind of issue. They can probably help you come up with a solution that will work best for you.

Please take care of yourself by giving the helpline a call.