How to Be Supportive of Someone Who is Depressed

Depression is a mental illness that can be debilitating to a person, but it can be even more difficult to watch a loved one experience its horrors. Sometimes supporting a person through depression can be challenging, but it is something that can also be rewarding. Safety is the most important aspect of supporting a person who is going through a depressive episode, but understanding, caring and education are important, too. Support from a friend is just as important as therapy and medication in helping someone overcome depression.

Instructions

• 1

  Learn about depression and its symptoms. Some people do not even realize when they are getting depressed. Having an outside person help them identify symptoms can be a tremendous help. Look for such things as feelings of emptiness, loss of interest, hopelessness, worthlessness, irritability, appetite changes, too much and too little sleep, constant fatigue, difficulty concentrating and thoughts of death and suicide.

• 2

  Facilitate professional help. Become the champion of therapy and medication in the depressed person's life because that is what will ultimately help. Depressed people will be reluctant and distrustful of help because they refuse to believe it will work. It is important to encourage them to go anyway. Offer to drive, set up appointments and accompany them to see the therapists.

• 3

  Provide emotional support. Listen to what she has to say. Do not judge or criticize. Understand that it is a disease that she is struggling with, not a personality flaw. Be positive with her, and offer to help with anything that may be bothering her. Try to make her life as easy as possible by seeing to routine chores -- including meals and medications. These are often neglected by people who are depressed. Be encouraging, and be patient.

• 4

  Recognize the signs of worsening depression or a crisis situation. Each person experiences depression in a different way. Sometimes a depressed person will talk about suicide. This is a crisis situation and requires immediate referral to a mental health provider. It is important to take any talk of suicide seriously. Sometimes there will not be any direct talk of suicide, but it is important to ask anyway if there are suspicions. It may reveal that the person is not safe and in need of more direct care.

• 5

  Contact a mental health care provider should there be a risk of suicide or if the person seems unsafe. Encourage him to seek out immediate treatment for the depression. However, if he is reluctant, call a local hospital to have him or her evaluated by a mental health professional. Call 911 and stay with him to assure safety until help arrives.