Hey there and thanks for your message.

What a great friend you are that your mate felt comfortable and safe enough to talk to you about how he was feeling, and that you are getting further information on how best to support him. You have already done a lot to support your buddy. First and foremost, you listened to him. Just for him to be heard and be able to talk (even if it was briefly) with you about how he feels is likely to have made him feel better.

You say he's asked you not to bring it up again or tell anyone what he's confided in you. I'm sure this could be a big burden for you because I'm sure you're worried for your friend. Sometimes keeping a secret for your mate isn't always a good thing—there are bad secrets and good secrets.

There are a couple of different ways you could go about offering him some help. You could tell him that you are there for him anytime and thank him for feeling he could talk to you. If you think he might try to cut you off or not let you talk, you could write him a note or letter letting him know you're there, and give him some other support contact details (I have added some below).

It's a worry that your mate said his life's not worth living. Have you noticed a change in his behaviour or mood lately? The main thing for your friend to know is that he doesn't need to go through this alone. No abuse is okay, especially if it is coming from those who are meant to love and nurture you the most in your home. This is not a secret you should keep or take on by yourself.

I'm not sure how much information he gave you or how well you know his family. If he has an okay relationship with his dad (or his biological mum?) you could encourage him to talk to them. School supports like counsellors could be help, to your mate or to you. They could let you know more about local community supports. You can also make an anonymous call to the Kids Helpline or the SA Department for Communities and Social Inclusion, or look at their websites for more information.

Please let us know if we can give your more information and again, good on you for being a great, thoughtful and caring friend.