Friendship Conflicts

It is very common that occasional conflicts may arise between you and a friend. However, it can be a difficult part of friendships and it might be difficult to know how to deal with it, especially if it is a new friend.

Conflicts between friends can arise due to jealousy, poor communication, or a lack of respect for another person. Below you can find some tips on how to deal with conflicts with your friends.  

Top Tips

    1. Have open lines of communication – Whilst it can be difficult to talk about a fall-out, honesty is the best policy. If needed, take a few days before talking to the friend to iron out your own thoughts and perspective. Make sure to go into the discussion willing to listen what the other person has to say, even if it is hard to hear.  
    2. Take some time if you need it – It’s easy to say something in the heat of the moment that you may regret and this may damage the friendship further. Try and think before you speak, and if you feel yourself getting het up count backwards from 10 before speaking. 
    3. Make sure to engage in active listening – This is a key skill in any relationship

How can the University Support you?

If your Mental Wellbeing has been impacted by conflict with friends, you can contact our Mental Wellbeing Team for advice and support.

What to do next?

Online Wellbeing Referral Form

If you feel like the conflict with your friend has got out of hand you can complete our Online Referral Wellbeing form to receive support for your own mental wellbeing.

Online Incident Reporting Portal

If you feel like you are being harassed or bullied, you can report the incident using the Online Incident Reporting Tool.  

What should I do if I am worried about somebody else?

Friendship conflicts can be especially complicated if you are close to both parties involved. If a friend approaches you, you can still provide a listening ear but try to stay objective if you can. Otherwise, you might risk damaging your relationship with one or both friends. You should encourage the friend to talk to the other friend and to resolve it. It might be a good idea to offer to join the conversation to mediate but ensure and tell both parties before the conversation, that you will be objective and are only present to help the conversation if needed.  

Last Updated: 4th September 2022