Wednesday 15 June 2011

Support

Support can come from groups or family.

Helping someone with depression can be a challenge. If someone in your life has depression, you may feel helpless and you may wonder what to do. Learn how to offer support and understanding and how to help your loved one get the resources to cope with depression. With the right approach, depression usually gets better. People with depression may not recognize or acknowledge that they're depressed. They may not be aware of signs and symptoms of depression, or they may feel too hopeless to address the issue. People with depression may think that how they feel is normal and not the result of a mental health condition. All too often, people feel ashamed about their depression and mistakenly believe they should be able to overcome it with willpower alone. But depression seldom gets better without treatment and may get worse. Help the person you care about recognize the symptoms of depression and get treatment:

  • Talk to the person about what you've noticed and why you're concerned.




  • Explain that depression is a medical condition, not a personal flaw or weakness — and that it usually gets better with treatment.




  • Suggest that the person see a professional — a medical doctor or a mental health provider such as a licensed counselor or psychologist.




  • Offer to help prepare a list of questions for the person to discuss in an initial appointment with a doctor or mental health provider.




  • Express your willingness to help by setting up appointments, going with the person to appointments and attending family therapy sessions.
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