Beating depression often requires the support of other people. But just what is the most constructive way to help someone with depression? Below are just a few tips on how to support someone who has depression.
Provide positive reinforcement
People with depression tend to be very self-critical. The smallest negative comments can be enough to push someone deeper into depression. Continuous positive reinforcement may be enough to build up your loved one’s self-esteem and pull them out of depression. Try to hold back any frustration you may have with them until they are in better spirits. You can also help people to feel better about themselves by opening up about your own insecurities and by expressing your concern in a way that emphasizes how much they mean to you.
Encourage them to maintain a routine
A routine can provide a sense of purpose. If your loved one does not have many routines, try to help them establish one. This could include encouraging meals at a certain time, creating a household chore rota, or scheduling routine meetups for coffee. If your depressed loved one lives with you, try to encourage them to keep up the small basic daily routine tasks like washing themselves, brushing their teeth, and eating.Â
Help them to get help
Professional support may be necessary to help your loved one truly beat depression. Your loved one may not seek out this professional help voluntarily and so you should try to steer them towards it. You may have to schedule appointments and make sure that they are attending them. There are many different forms of professional support for depression to explore ranging from at-home therapy to rehab for depression. Talk to your loved one and try to work out which form of professional support would be most productive for them.
Know when they could be a risk to themselves
If your loved one has talked about ending their life or made attempts to end their own life, you may have to pay them closer attention. You can help prevent them from following through by removing as many dangers as you can, expressing your concern, and monitoring them closely (but not constantly watching them like a hawk). Be prepared to make an emergency call if you think your loved one is in danger. You can also call suicide hotlines for support.Â
Don’t neglect your own mental health
When helping other people with depression, it can be easy to neglect our own mental health. Supporting someone who is depressed can be draining – especially if your loved one is constantly being negative or deliberately trying to push you away to further hurt themselves. You may even experience feelings of guilt and responsibility for their depression, or contrastingly you may experience feelings of resentment if you are having to take on more responsibility and stress while helping them. Make sure to find time to talk to others about your feelings – including therapists if you feel you have no friends or relatives to vent to.
