7 Ways to Help a Depressed Person

You can help a depressed person in the following ways:

1. Providing company that will divert the depressive thoughts. Encourage the person to talk and actively listen attentively. Let the person get social contacts and involvement in your daily activities. Establish the role that you can effectively play in helping the depressed person. Do not reprimand the person when they are talking. Inform the person about realities of life and offer encouragement. If it becomes difficult for you to offer support seek professional advice.

2. It is important to help the depressed person get treatment. Treatment should be administered until the symptoms are overcome. If there are no changes, another kind of treatment should be tried.

3. Emotional support goes a long way in helping the patient to recover. This includes patience, encouragement, affection and understanding. These activities boost their feelings but you should avoid demanding too much from them as it may push them back to depression.

4. When a patient seems to fall back to depression explain that there are changes that might be a sign of an increase in depression level. Encouraging the person to seek further treatment is a way of helping the depressed person.

5. A depressed person appreciates your help even without saying it. This is the reason why you should not distance yourself from the person as it will cause a disintegration of the social system and feel isolated.

6. Motivate the person so that he does not feel hopeless. Many find it hard to visit a therapist or to follow the set routine. Assist the person to make changes in lifestyle like establishing an exercise schedule or eating healthy food.

7. If it is necessary, be part of therapy session and help the patient stick to routine.

It is important to seek depression therapy as a psychiatrist/psychologist will enable the depressed person to establish what is the cause of the psychological problems and how to resolve them. They will also recommend the right therapy for helping the depressed person.

Final tip ask the depressed person is there anything they would like to do that is fun. It is so important to do things that make you happy and laugh even if it is only for a short while.

Remember, people can and do make recoveries from depression and go on to lead their best lives imaginable. Seek help.