When you are diagnosed with an illness, it can be hard to tell your friends as no one wants to be seen as different.

Who you share this information with is really up to you, but most kids tell us, that once they summon up the courage to talk about it, it’s helpful and becomes a positive experience.

If your best friends know about your illness and how it impacts you, they can support you on those days when you’re not feeling your best and can’t play during recess or do sport. They can become your best advocates.

There are lots of ways to tell your friends.

  • You can just tell your best friend if you have a special one. Make sure they know if it’s a secret or if they can tell other people.
  • You can tell a few of your closest friends. Remember to let your friends ask questions. If you don’t know the answer, tell them that. If you start to get upset, just say something like “can we talk about something else now?”
  • You can tell your entire class during News or Home Room announcements.
  • You can ask your teacher tell the class.

Your parents can help you with this. The school counsellor can also help by providing some background information to staff or to the class.

However you decide to go about it, remember it’s important you are inculded in the decision making and have some say about who’s told and how much information is given out.

Here’s a couple of scripts that might help start the conversation.