| The most important thing anyone can do for the | | | | your depressed friend or family member by living a |
| depressed person is to help him or her get an | | | | positive, growing, balanced life yourself. |
| appropriate diagnosis and treatment for depression. | | | | When helping someone who is depressed, don't |
| This may involve encouraging the individual to stay with | | | | expect the depressed person to overcome his or her |
| treatment until the symptoms of depression begin to | | | | depression all by himself or herself. When depressed a |
| abate (several weeks), or to seek different treatment | | | | person can't "pull himself or herself up by his or her |
| if no improvement occurs. The very nature of | | | | boot straps." The depression relates to chemical |
| depression can interfere with a person's ability to get | | | | changes which have taken place in the brain. A person |
| help. Depression saps energy and self-esteem and | | | | can't just change his or her brain chemistry back to |
| makes a person feel tired, worthless, helpless, and | | | | normal. |
| hopeless. | | | | Depression and dual diagnosis affects the whole |
| Offer emotional support. This involves understanding, | | | | family. There are many ranges of emotions from |
| patience, affection, and encouragement. Engage the | | | | anger and fear to hopefulness and hopelessness. |
| depressed person in conversation and listen carefully. | | | | Having others that have experienced it before can |
| Do not disparage feelings expressed, but point out | | | | help eliminate unhealthy coping mechanisms such as |
| realities and offer hope. | | | | isolation, shame, control and low self-esteem. |
| Do not accuse the depressed person of faking illness | | | | Pain is inevitable; suffering is optional: We are all going |
| or of laziness, or expect him or her "to snap out of it." | | | | to feel pain in life never mind a home with mental |
| Learn all you can about depression. | | | | illness. Surround yourselves with knowledge, self-care, |
| Learn all you can about the helping system for | | | | experienced support and nurturing. There are no such |
| depression in your area. | | | | things as victims ... only volunteers. |
| Bond with your friend. (That is, in the depressed person | | | | Make a list of early symptoms such as sleep, appetite |
| helper relationship) | | | | and mood changes. Early intervention is the key to |
| Learn to communicate with the depressed person. | | | | stopping a downward spiral. Determine what worked in |
| Encourage and help them to strengthen themselves | | | | the past to get the person with clinical depression back |
| physically, mentally and emotionally as much as | | | | on track and do the things that worked before. |
| possible given their depressed state. | | | | Research shows that medication in combination with |
| Do provide the depressed person with practical help, | | | | cognitive behavioral therapy is more effective than |
| as you are able. For example, you may provide them | | | | medication alone. Combined with therapy, the person |
| with babysitting; this can be especially helpful if they | | | | who is clinically depressed may need to make lifestyle |
| need to go to a therapy appointment or support group. | | | | changes, including dietary and exercise changes. The |
| If possible and appropriate, you may provide financial | | | | family needs to find ways to reduce stressors by |
| help. | | | | simplifying their lives. |
| Do model positive behaviors. One of the best ways to | | | | Listening carefully can also make you more aware of |
| influence someone else to become more healthy, is to | | | | signs of suicide which should not be ignored. |
| be more healthy yourself. Be a good role model for | | | | |