Snowie Grangers
If you know someone close to you that is suffering from depression, it can be difficult, confusing, and saddening, not just for him or her, but for you as well. You want to be able to help your loved one, but you need to make sure you also say and do the right things. Even if it seems they are not listening to you, they are trying.
1. Look for symptoms. If you suspect your loved one has depression, take stock of his behavior to get a sense of his level of depression. Make a list of the symptoms that you notice. This may include, but is not limited to, frequent, prolonged, and/or seemingly unprovoked sadness and recurrent thoughts of death or suicide, attempting suicide or having a plan for suicide
2. Have a conversation with your loved one about their depression. Once you have recognized that your loved one is suffering from depression, you should be honest and have an open conversation with that person.
3. Be firm. Make it clear that you are worried about your friend. Don’t let her brush it off by saying she’s just having “a bad month.” If your friend tries to change the subject, steer the conversation back to her emotional state.
4. Know that you cannot “fix” the depression. You probably want to help your friend as much as you can. However, there is no simple way to “fix” depression. You can encourage her to get help, and you can be there for her. Ultimately, however, it is up to your friend to want to get better.
5. Encourage your loved one to find a good counseling fit. If the first counseling session does not work out well for your loved one, encourage him to try another counselor. A bad counseling experience can put someone off the whole idea.