Who can I speak to?

[waylum_99]

Hi there,

I am concerned for someone else. They have all the symptoms of being depressed and I have tried to talk to them about it but cannot get through to them at all. Is there anyone I can talk to who can help me help my friend?

[Hidden]

Hello

Try SANE, AND MIND.

They will however get support on this page

[Gambit62]

Unfortunately all you can do is be there to support them.

It is really difficult - especially if you haven't been depressed yourself - and I really hope you haven't been because it is a horrible place to be - as it's something that you can't really understand unless you have been there. You want to take away the pain but unfortunately it doesn't work that way.

What I find most helpful isn't the people who try to understand but those that have come out and said that they know they don't understand but they are there if I want to talk ... and that I don't have to talk if I don't want to.

At the end of the day though your friend or relative is really the one that is responsible for themselves - and if you find yourself starting to feel guilty or frustrated that you can't help you need to stop and take care of yourself for a while. It's difficult not to be in control of a situation but sometimes the reality is that we can't be in control of a situation and the worst thing we can do is fight against admitting that.

[John79962]

Hello,

I thought I'd post here, mainly to reinforce what Gambit has said as it was explained very well.

It feels like your out of control, and unfortunately that is how depression tends to be. The person who is suffering has to find their way out (Though this admitedly is the hard part) so all you can do is be there and show your support and listen if your friend has anything they feel like talking about.

Don't push them, just make sure they know your there if they need you, the steps are gradual and have to be taken at there pace (Whatever pace this maybe).

I wish I could help more, but Gambit had it spot on. It's nice that you feel you want to help, he's lucky to have a friend like you.

[Hidden]

Hi

I agree with gambit. If you are really close you could give them details of organisations that can help locally or buy them a book on self-help and living with depression but even doing that could upset them as they need to feel able to choose whether to seek help. They may not be ready to face their problems and pushing them could make them retreat from people which will only make them worse. Just be there as a source of support when they need it. Doing that may leave you feeling helpless and you may need to talk with someone about that, you could seek professional counselling help if so.

Sue