How to Help Yourself or Others Who Are Depressed
How can I help myself if I am depressed?
The most important thing is to go see a mental health professional to seek appropriate treatment. This may be in the form of medication, therapy or both. The first step may be visiting your family doctor or calling the employee assistance program (EAP).
As you continue treatment, you may start to feel better gradually. Remember that if you are taking an antidepressant, it may take two to four weeks to start working. Try to do things that you used to enjoy. Go easy on yourself. Here are other things that may help:
- Try to be active and exercise.
- Break up large tasks into small ones, set priorities, and do what you can as you can.
- Spend time with other people, and confide in a trusted friend or relative.
- Postpone important life decisions until you feel better. Discuss decisions with others who know you well.
- Avoid self-medication with alcohol or with drugs not prescribed for you.
How can I help a loved one who is depressed?
If you know someone who has depression, first help him or her see a health care provider or mental health professional. You can also try the following:
- Offer support, understanding, patience and encouragement.
- Never ignore comments about suicide, and report them to your loved one's health care provider or therapist.
- Invite him or her out for walks, outings and other activities.
- Help him or her adhere to the treatment plan, such as setting reminders to take prescribed medications.
- Help him or her by ensuring that he or she has transportation to therapy appointments.
- Remind him or her that, with time and treatment, the depression will lift.
Where can I go for help?
If you are unsure where to go for help, ask your health provider or check out the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Help for Mental Illnesses webpage at https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/find-help/index.shtml. Another federal health agency, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), maintains an online Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator at https://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/. You can also check online for mental health professionals; contact your community health center, local mental health association or insurance plan to find a mental health professional. Hospital doctors can help in an emergency.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, get help quickly.
- Call your or your loved one's health professional.
- Call 911 for emergency services.
- Go to the nearest hospital emergency room.
- Call the toll-free, 24-hour hotline of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255); TYY: 1-800-799-4TTY (4889).
U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). (Revised 2016). Depression basics (NIH Pub. No. TR 16-3561). Retrieved April 4, 2017, from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/
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