How to Help Someone With Depression
Providing support to a friend or family member who is suffering from depression can be a difficult task. Oftentimes, the person may be reluctant to seek help and not want to admit that they are depressed. However, there are several ways to provide support and encourage your loved one to seek treatment.
One of the most important things to offer is unconditional love. This requires patience. You may need to be available at all times, and may even need to change your schedule to accommodate the person. However, you must always respect the person’s decision, and be willing to continue providing support.
Another important thing to offer is compassionate listening. You can help a person suffering from depression to open up by listening in a caring and supportive way. You can do this by focusing on the person’s feelings, not on the depression itself. When you do this, the person will be more likely to discuss their depression.
During the course of treatment, you may need to remind your loved one to take their medications, and you may need to schedule appointments. You may also need to help your loved one find the right treatment provider for them. This can be a trial and error process.
The most important thing to remember is that depression is not anyone’s fault. However, it can affect everyone around the person who is depressed. If you know that you are contributing to a person’s depression, you may want to consider getting help for yourself.
Keeping yourself in a good mood is another way to help a person with depression. You can improve your mood by participating in activities like swimming or yoga. You can also take a walk in nature or make art. Taking a break from your routine can also improve your mood.
You may be able to offer practical help to a person suffering from depression, like cooking or cleaning. You can also offer support by attending family therapy sessions. The goal of family therapy is to create a supportive environment, which is important for someone suffering from depression.
Lastly, you can help someone with depression by recognizing signs that they may be contemplating suicide. If you notice a person trying to harm themselves, call 911 immediately. You can also call the depression helpline at 0800 111 757.
Providing support is important during treatment, but you should not put pressure on the person to make a decision. If you are unsure, do your research. There are many resources available online. You can also ask the family doctor for a referral to a mental health provider. You can also offer to attend a therapy session with your loved one, which will help them hear directly from a mental healthcare professional.
Depression is difficult to treat, and it is important that you do your best to support your loved one. However, it is also important to remember that depression will not go away overnight. Taking the time to get help will give your loved one the opportunity to start feeling better.
