How To Support A Loved One With Depression

Depression is a very common mental illness. It affects 350 million people worldwide, and most of us know someone who has suffered from it. But when someone close to you is depressed, it can be hard to know how best to help them. Read on for some tips on supporting a loved one with depression.

Listen to them

Often, what a depressed person most needs is to be listened to. Encourage your loved one to talk about their feelings, and listen non-judgmentally. Let them know that you care about them and will be there whenever they need to talk.

Don’t try to give them advice, especially if you’ve never suffered from depression yourself. Saying things like ‘think positive’ is not helpful. Be careful with your language too – make sure you aren’t invalidating or trivialising your loved one’s emotions. Avoid judging them, or making them feel ashamed of any limitations they may have because of their illness.

If a loved one is showing symptoms of depression but hasn’t been diagnosed, gently encourage them to see a doctor. Make sure they know that help is available to them should they need it.

Having depression can make someone feel very drained, so a depressed person may not have the energy to complete basic tasks. Living in a messy or dirty environment is likely to make their mental health worse, so give them a hand by washing their dishes or emptying their bins.

Depressed people may also lack the energy to eat well. Cooking them a nutritious meal is an excellent way to support them.

If you want to help your loved one, you need to have some understanding of what they’re going through. That means educating yourself as much as possible about depression. Remember that it’s an illness, like cancer or heart disease. It isn’t just in your loved one’s head.

In fact, depression is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. So take it seriously, and don’t expect anyone to ‘snap out of it’. And remember that if your loved one seems better on a particular day, it doesn’t mean that they are cured or that their illness isn’t serious.

Encourage your loved one to go for a walk with you whenever possible, as the exercise and fresh air are likely to improve their mood. If you can, get them out of the house on other occasions too. Socialising with friends, for instance, may be good for them. However, you should never force them to do anything, especially if the idea is upsetting or distressing to them.

Conclusion
Do your best to be there for your loved one and help them through this difficult time. However, don’t try to ‘fix’ them. Notice when they are feeling particularly bad, and let them know that you care. As long as you treat them with kindness and compassion, you probably won’t go too far wrong. With the right treatment and support, hopefully your loved one will soon be on the road to recovery.