Understanding and helping someone with depression

Depression is a mental health condition caused by many different factors. It can come in various forms such as postnatal depression, dysthymia, or seasonal affective disorder. Although depression can be caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain, there are also other factors to take into consideration including stressful life events, certain medications, and medical issues.

According to the World Health Organization "depression is a common illness worldwide, with an estimated 3.8% of the population affected, including 5% among adults and 5.7% among adults older than 60 years. "

Symptoms of depression 

There are many symptoms of depression but some of the most common ones are:

• Feeling down and tearful
• Feeling helpless and worthless 
• Having a lack of energy or motivation
• Tiredness and poor sleep patterns
• Lack of self-confidence
• Feeling suicidal
• Loss of interest in the things you usually enjoy
• Change in appetite

Tips for helping someone with depression

1. Firstly, if you recognise that someone has depression, it’s important to encourage them to seek professional help as the experts are able to give the most appropriate help.
2. Listen to them. Sometimes people may get frustrated when they’re in close contact with someone with depression and think that they can advise them on what they need to do, but the best way you can help is simply by listening. Just by listening you can prevent the person from feeling alone and judged.
3. Keep in touch. Depression can cause people to feel isolated so by sending a short text message or giving them a quick call can let them know that you’re there for them. 
4. Don’t criticise someone with depression as it’s not something they can simply snap out of. It can be difficult to understand depression if you’ve never experienced it yourself but the best way to help is by not judging or pressurising someone into doing something they don’t want to do.
5. It can be tempting to take control of things, especially when the person with depression is very close to you, like cooking, cleaning or running errands. But it’s important that you don’t do everything for them and encourage them to do these things for themselves. 
6. Practise self-care. Caring for someone with depression can certainly put pressure on you and unless you look after yourself, it could also start to affect your own mental wellbeing. You could try things such as meditation, exercise, relaxation techniques, and mindfulness to help you maintain a healthy mind. It’s also vital that you have a balanced diet to keep your body and mind at their optimum health. 

Further information

• Visit our information page on depression >
• Download our free workbook 'Understanding And Managing Depression - A Workbook And Guide' about depression >