If you come across someone who is depressed – a family member, friend, or co-worker – it’s important to do your part in providing help.
While it’s true there’s only so much you can do, and you must be careful when you take action, doing something is better than doing nothing at all.
So, what’s the best way to speak to someone who is depressed? Since no two people are the same, there’s no right or wrong answer.
That said, there are definitely things you can do to make the conversation more meaningful. Here are five tips.
1. Hear them out
There are times to speak and times to listen. Don’t get in the other person’s way; give them an ear and a shoulder to lean on. Sometimes, all a person needs is someone to talk with when things are going bad.
Once you hear what they have to say, you can decide what to do next. Maybe you can help them directly, or perhaps you’d need to bring someone else into the mix (more on this below).
Either way, being a good listener will go a long way towards making the person feel better and hopefully move past their current state.
2. Tell them you care
It’s one thing to listen; it’s another thing entirely to tell the person that you care. And if you want to go one step further, prove it to them through actions.
For example, you could stay with them overnight to ensure they’re safe. Or you could invite them out to dinner as a means of showing your feelings.
When it’s your turn to talk, tell the person openly and honestly that you care about them. A few words could go a long way in changing their outlook on life.
3. Offer your help
There are times when you need to take the extra step, and this often means offering your help. What this help constitutes, on the other hand, depends on the circumstances.
All you can do is offer your hand and wait for what the person says. They might not even know what type of help they want or need, but this shouldn’t matter – just make it clear they have a standing offer.
The last thing you want is for the other person to think you’re paying them lip service. Again, back up your words with action as much as possible.
4. Try to get them professional help
As it’s not always a good idea to take action on your own, you may want to ask the person if they want professional help. This is often the difference between overcoming depression and letting it linger and exacerbate things.
From a doctor or a therapist to a treatment centre, there’s plenty of help available – you just need to guide them to it.
5. Get others involved
Maybe this friend is keeping their problem from other people in their life, such as their parents or a spouse. While you don’t want to add drama to an already difficult situation, there are times when you need to get others involved.
The best thing you can do is ask the person if they want others to know what they are going through. If they’re open to it, let other people in to provide additional assistance.
Depression is a serious mental health concern, so do whatever it takes to ensure your loved one doesn’t harm him or herself.
Dennis Relojo-Howell is the managing director of Psychreg and host of ‘The DRH Show’. Connect with him on Twitter @dennisr_howell.