Lving With And Helping Someone With Depression

https://www.sciencealert.com/here-s-how-you-can-help-a-loved-one-who-has-depression-tips-from-psychologists - Lving With And Helping Someone With Depression (14 Jul 2020):

Don't assume someone is OK just because they say they are. It's better to ask more questions and risk being annoying than to miss something important, such as symptoms of depression. When people feel depressed, they often experience repeating streams of negative thoughts.

It can be helpful to encourage someone who is thinking this way to try to look at different sides to a situation. Useful questions might be: "What advice would you give a friend in this situation?" or "What would be a more helpful way of thinking about this?"

It's helpful to let the depressed person know that you can see how they are feeling and that their feelings are understandable and valid, and will pass in time - this is validation.

Try to counteract this by helping the person to re-engage with things that are important to them. Start with small things such as putting some structure into the day and perhaps increasing exercise, or time spent in nature, if possible.

Help the person gradually re-introduce activities and social contacts that they see as valuable. Make some small plans together for the future (short, medium and long-term).

Support the person to generate simple solutions to problems and encourage them to put these solutions and ideas into action rather than avoiding things.

There are a number of other effective treatments for depression. Encourage the person you are supporting to seek extra help if needed. This might be in the form of online information and online courses for both adults and young people; through self-help books; or by contacting your local healthcare provider or mental health services in your area.