Over to you…
Hopefully this website has helped you to understand what it is like for people with depression. If you know someone who is depressed, you might be able to help them.
What about my friend?
Perhaps one of your friends or someone in your family is depressed?. You might be able to help them.
• Talk to them: they might be looking for an opportunity to share their feelings.
• Listen: You don’t have to have the answers, just listening will be a big help
• Remind them of their good points – everyone has some!
• Show them this website
• Don’t try to force your friend to be cheerful or to ‘pull themselves together’
• Spend time together, even if is just to be there. That’s the greatest gift of all!
• Encourage your friend to seek medical help and tell a trusted adult.
• Ask what you can do to help!
Remember to take care of yourself whilst you are supporting your friend. You might be a big source of help but you can’t make them better. You can only give support and as this can take a lot out of you, you’ll need a break from time to time. Don’t feel pressurised into making promises not to share what your friend has told you with someone else. As a caring friend, if you feel worried about what you are told, it could be wise to share your concerns with another person you trust.
But it’s not just enough to know all that. You have to act on what you’ve learnt!
Seeking help is a sign of strength.
So take a few moments and think:
- What might be stopping you asking for help?
- Can you think of something bad that could happen if you don’t ask for help?
- Can you think of something good that could happen if you do ask for help?
Sometimes we allow ourselves to be put off asking for help. We may feel embarrassed or afraid of what others might say or think of us. Remember that depression is an illness and it is unlikely it will just go away by itself. But if you let other people help you, it could be the beginning of an exciting new stage in your life.
Aware Defeat Depression can help too! Why not phone us, email us, or contact us using one of our social networking sites?
