How to Help Someone Get Treatment for Depression

Denial is a common stage that many people go through when suffering from depression. They may refuse to believe they have a mental health disorder or may disregard warning signs of depression. It's important for all friends and family members to help someone get treatment for depression, whether or not denial is a factor.

Instructions

• 1

  Encourage the person to make an appointment for a general health check-up with his family physician. This may be less threatening than actually visiting a mental health center or psychologist right away for depression.

• 2

  Help your loved one make a list of all the depression symptoms that are present before doctor's visit. This list can be taken to the family physician and help the doctor decide whether a referral to a psychologist or mental health professional is needed.

• 3

  Go with the person to his doctor's appointment for encouragement and moral support. While you're at the office visit, explain to the doctor the depression signs and symptoms that you have observed in the other person. A psychologist may or may not be recommended at this point.

• 4

  Make an appointment for the person with a nearby psychologist or mental health counselor, whether or not one was recommended by a family physician. Psychologists can make a clinical diagnosis of depression and start a treatment or therapy plan. A psychiatrist may also get involved to make any further diagnoses and write prescriptions for antidepressant and anti-anxiety medications.

• 5

  Drive the person or accompany him to his appointment with the psychologist. This will show your support in helping him get treated for depression.

• 6

  Help the depressed person follow through with any follow-up therapy appointments and remind him to take his depression medication on a daily basis. Over time, his depression will improve with a combination of therapy and antidepressant prescriptions.

• 7

  Find a depression support group in your community and attend the meetings with the other person. Knowing that other people suffer from the same symptoms and depression episodes should be encouraging and supportive to the person to know that he is not alone.