Bill Withers, in his song - Lean on me, expressed willingness to help a brother when he sang; 

...You just call on me brother, when you need a hand, we all need somebody to lean on... 

That in fact is an inert yearning in humans - The desire to offer assistance, and be assisted.

A cry is suddenly heard, help me! The voice resounded. On getting closer, the caller is seen laughing scornfully at the one whose assistance he asked; too bad, he needed no help at all, but called for help - He merely Cried Wolf.

Source

A collection of fables in the late 60s, believed to have been written by the Greek storyteller Aesop, included the tale about a young shepherd watching his flock. lonely and fearful, he called for help by shouting "Wolf!"

Why it may Happen

Loneliness or Fear, Imagination and feelings of Insecurity, Fun and Jokes and even the want of Attention. These could make people ask for help when they imagine they need it, instead of when they really do. But the danger is far greater than whatever fun it may cause.

In that story, after people came to his aid several times and saw no wolf, the people ignored his cries when a wolf actually attacked his sheep.

But this is life, not a joke

Asa sang...

If you are walking in a market place, don't throw stones...

Because the world is a market place, raising false alarms could cost ones life, minimize his chances of being helped, and worse, erode peoples' trust in him - causing him loss of credibility; Collateral damage.

A Better Approach

Be plain, know your feelings. Know when you are lonely and when you are in danger. The two are different, for music, or sleep, or a phone call could lift a lonely heart, and 911 or a close neighbour could save an endangered soul.

Try being your own Hero more than once. While people are willing to help, overly depending on them to keep one safe or lively could result in disappointments, low self esteem and sometimes, depression. 

However, knowing your buttons well would afford one the ability to lift his spirit, keep away from danger zones, and maintain a healthy view of self, people and life - not Haughty nor Timid, but Firm and Enlivened. 

Summarily, Westlife sang...

Everybody is looking for that something, one thing that makes it all complete...

That one thing is not the attention caught from false alarm, but the fulfillment brought by self discovery. 

Discover you!