If you are someone who knows or believes you know someone who may have depression, here are some things you should and should not say and do towards them:
- Accept that depression is real: they are not just going through a short-term rough patch. Suffering from depression is not something that can just go away if you ignore it is there. There is a difference between being temporarily sad/feeling low or having a bad day and suffering from depression.
- Do not tell them to just “cheer up” or “get over it”: this can make things worse for someone who has depression as they will feel a worse sense of hopelessness from their inability to simply “get better”.
- Do not make judgments: If someone with depression or believes they have depression has the trust and confidence to open up to you about their worries, do not judge them for it. Don’t pass it off as them going through a hard time and dismiss their problems; encourage them to seek help and the appropriate treatment available to them.
- Do not assume it isn’t there because they do not mention it: Some people living with depression do not like to discuss their issues. Saying things like “well you never mentioned it until now” does not help them. Not everyone is comfortable discussing their problems with depression with others, despite how close your relationship with them is. However do not force them to talk about their feelings if they do not want to. Continue to support them even if they don’t always want to be open about their depression, it’s a constant problem in their lives even if they do not verbally express this, so it should not be ignored, avoided or dismissed.
- Think before you speak: Saying the wrong thing to someone with depression, regardless of whether you meant it or not will affect the person more than you may know. Even if they are not verbal of the affect it has on them does not mean it has not made things worse for them.
- Research: Look into what depression is, how it is caused, what the symptoms are and how you can support someone with it. Even though you do not know first-hand what they go through on a daily basis, you can sympathize that they are suffering and you can support them to the best of your ability.
Even though a person’s belief may be that depression does not exist, the simple fact is that it is a medically recognised health condition, whether they want to accept it or not. Even though depression is a mental illness, it can lead to physical problems and even death. Knowing what is appropriate and what is not to say to someone with depression can make a massively significant difference in their recovery and every day coping. The more negative things said to a person living with depression will ultimately make life worse for them. They will feel like there is no help available to them, increasing the feeling of hopelessness and stress. It can also lead them to believe that their depression is not real and they are just over-exaggerating, increasing their feelings of self-loathing and stress.
Even though in my personal experience I did receive negative comments about my diagnosis, I also had a positive and accepting atmosphere from others which continues to support me throughout my life. This should be available to everyone living with depression and not only will saying and doing the right things support a person’s treatment and recovery, it may also save their life and is crucial to a person living with depression.
