help; assistance; aid; support
General noun for help or assistance; can refer to a person who helps, a helping hand, or the act of helping.
When you're in trouble, ask your friends for help.
He was my greatest support.
He asked his neighbor for help.
This task needs everyone's help.
With a friend's help, I found a new job.
When the fight started, he stepped in to help.
助け is a broader, more emotionally weighted word for help or aid (even in emergencies), while お手伝い is the everyday polite word for lending a hand with tasks.
助け is general help or aid given in a moment of need, whereas 支え suggests ongoing, steady support that sustains someone.
helping others; kind deed; kindness
help each other; cooperate