How do you help someone who is depressed?

the best way to come out of depression is DISTRACTION :) stick to your hobbies, and distract yourself, and gradually you will be out of depression !

That's an important question to ask and thank you for asking because it tells me that you care about someone with depression and are willing to provide them support. I'm listing answers based on my personal experience and it's not comprehensive but I think they are some good tips. 1. Recognize the symptoms. Knowing the signs will help you help your loved one. Please see 7 Cups Of Tea's self help guide at https://www.7cups.com/depression-help-online/ 2. Let the individual know that they are loved. This one is HUGE for me. I'm very good at masking and I had a terrible episode where I could no longer hide behind the mask and it bled into all parts of my life. Concerned friends who did not know how to help me, simply told me that they loved me and then asked how they could be there for me. I was in the depths of despair (cliche but true) and even though it didn't clear up my symptoms right away, it gave me strength to know that people loved me even at what I felt was my most unlovable state. 3. Hugs. Okay, not everyone is a hugger so this might not apply... But hugs are awesome, healthy and one of the fastest and most concrete way of making a person feel less alone. And yes, I love hugs because they helped me through the tough times and wholeheartedly endorse them. :) 4. Offer to listen. Then listen actively, without judgment and with lots of love. If you don't understand, don't pretend that you do. Be clear that you hear them and reflect appropriately. 5. Rally the troops. Depression is usually aggravated by isolation so creating a loving protective community around the individual can be helpful. It doesn't mean everyone is going to smother the individual... but having multiple people do #2, #3, #4, #8 can help the patient. 5. Encourage the individual to seek out help and remind them that they deserve to feel better. 6. Accompany them to an appointment or meeting, especially if they are not functioning normally. Or at the very least, offer to accompany them. 7. Offer up resources. Depression can be debilitating and a patient may not have the functionality to look up resources on their own. 8. Keep socializing with them but don't force them to have or be fun. I would try to withdraw and isolate but I have key people in my life who would recognize what I was doing and would reach out to me over and over again until I said yes. I would go out and even if I didn't feel my best, they never forced me to feel anything I wasn't. I hope this tidbit helps. Good luck to you and your loved one.

Show them that you understand, and give them your best advice. I think that it is important to listen to them!

The first thing to do is to know what depression looks like. Depression is not just feeling blue from time to time. Depression is long-standing, daily feeling of sadness, hopelessness, worthlessness and emptiness. A person who experiences depression cannot often see a future for themselves, and feel like the world is closing in around them. The warning signs and symptoms of depression are usually pretty clear to those around the person suffering. Depression is also experienced as a loss of interest and energy in things the person normally enjoys doing, things like working, going out, or being with family and friends. Most people with depression also experience problems with eating and sleeping; either too much or too little. A depressed person’s memory and ability to concentrate will often be impaired too. The person with depression will often be more irritable or feel restless. In order to help someone who is depressed, you have to somehow convince the person to get some help. Tell them they are loved and that they deserve help. Never give up on them, and if all efforts to encourage the depressed person fails, get other people in their life to assist you. Recommend helpful resources to them be it face-to-face care in their community, or online sources.

I try to see where the depression originates from and when it started. From there I help them come up with coping strategies!

By being there for them and supporting them with whatever they need. Never judge them and be available and supportive at all times. Never turn your back on them when they need you most.

I just try to be there whenever they need someone. I've found it's better to let them come to you, instead of you going to them and asking them questions or something else along those lines. Just make sure they aren't becoming self-destructive, they're getting help if they need it, and to always be there for them no matter what.

You try to be there for them, and try to give them some support. Also, it's important to try and get them some professional help.

I make them think about all the good things in their life & that they have so many things to do yet.

Recommend them to a therapist or self-help sites and talk about what is bothering them. You can also make sure that they aren't going to harm themselves and give them a suicide hotline and 911 if you think they do.