How to help someone dealing with depression
Published: 17/05/2023
How to help someone dealing with depression.
Depression can affect people of all ages. If you or someone you know has been feeling down for two weeks or more, it's important to help them find the help and support they need. It can be hard for them and their loved ones to manage, but there are many ways to help and improve their outlook on life.
To begin helping someone it’s beneficial to learn about depression and how it may affect someone. Each person will have their own experience & journey when it comes to dealing with the condition, but having knowledge on the topic will help you to understand what they’re going through and the options that may benefit them.
Feeling heard is one of the best ways to enable someone to open up and share the feelings and thoughts that they have inside themselves.
By taking your time to listen to their feelings and letting them explain anything they feel comfortable with can be extremely helpful to them. Just being able to open up to someone they trust and let out any built-up emotions can often relieve a lot of stress. It may be difficult for them to feel comfortable sharing their feelings, so it's important to respect any boundaries and try not to disregard anything they say. Once they’ve opened up you can offer your support and, if they would like to, you can collectively work out a plan to help them begin feeling better or seeking support from professionals to work through their situation. When speaking to someone living with depression, you should let them know you are there for them and that you don’t expect them to share anything they’re uncomfortable with.
Encourage them to speak to a professional. There are many options available and a range of therapies that may suit different people. They may oppose to the idea and some people may feel embarrassed by the idea of needing help, but you can remind them it’s a very common thing for people to go through and it can actually show them that they aren’t alone in these feelings. Many celebrities are open about going to therapy, so if you do some research, you could find someone your friend could relate to.
Offer to help with tasks they may be finding difficult. For example, someone could find it hard to get themselves out the house to do the shopping. Offer to go with them to make it more fun and they may feel more of a reason to go. It’s better to keep them involved instead of doing things entirely for them so that they can keep a routine and start to find the tasks easier again. Small acts of kindness can really add up.
It's very important not to criticise them. The person is going through a very difficult time, and they are trying very hard to feel better. A small critical comment could really set them back and make them feel like they shouldn’t try.
Offering to do fun things with them can take their mind away from their feelings. If you know an activity they enjoy, why not invite them and encourage them to give it a try. If they seem reluctant to go, you could offer to take them and if it makes them uncomfortable you’ll be happy to leave with them. If they don’t feel comfortable to go it is important to respect their boundaries.
It's also important to take care of your own mental health while helping your friend. It can be a challenging task, so you don’t want it to cause you stress and make you feel worse. Helping a friend in need is an amazing thing to do and you should be proud of yourself.
Further support:
For further support & signposting to professionals who can support you in your personal situation, please do look at the following websites.
The Mix is aimed at supporting people who are under 25:
Mind are a charity that support people of all ages with various health & wellbeing needs:
