What can we do to help others that are depressed or alone ?

Question

At this time of year there are more suicides than any other time of year put together.

Answer 1

PRAY. FATHER WE ASK YOU TO ASSIGN HOLY ANGELS, THRU YOUR ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, TO ADMINISTER HEALING AND STRENGTH TO ALL THOSE THAT ARE LONELY AND FEELING LEFT OUT. ALLOW THEM TO REALIZE THAT YOUR LOVE FOR THEM IS TRUE AND THAT YOU ALWAYS THERE FOR ALL OF US WHEN WE CALL.
IN JESUS NAME

Defend the poor and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy; Free them from the hand of the wicked.

Psalm 82:3-4



GOD BLESS

Answer 2

Talk to them, engage them in conversation, start first, as the depressed won't. If you notice changes, remark on them, don't ignore the signals. If need be, tell someone else about your observation. Let the depressed know you care, keep calling. Don't cut off communication abruptly, stay consistent with contact. The more a depressed person has to answer to, the less likely they will fall. Get them help, take them to a Dr. appointment. All these help, but there are thousands of ways, be creative. Any contact with another human is better than none, when you're depressed.

Answer 3

It is true that there are more suicides at this time of year; but I don't think the average person can help with a depressed person. If you will notice, a person who is suicidally depressed will commit suicide even if the house is full of people. Take it from one who knows, the best way to handle depression is to seek professional help.

Answer 4

Show up. Smile. Be a friend. :) Listen, don't judge, just let people talk. Yeah, I know, it can be annoying when someone is stuck in negative mode (sad, mopey, always has bad news) and always talks about crap, but....

This is another person's *life* we are talking about here. And....the reason depression is called a mood disorder is because the mood is disordered. The person with the problem *cannot help* their condition. They can't just wave a magic wand and make it go away....at best, there are things one can do to lessen the pain and control the side effects that interfere, but that is about it for many people.

And even so....not all depressing news is in people's *heads*, ok?

This is one of *THE* big things people don't get....they hear the words "mood disorder" and instantly want to psychologize everything, blame it all on the disorder or on "laziness" or on a "flaw of character," when the truth is, sometimes, Objectively Life Sucks.

People do end up with *legitimate* reasons to be in a bad mood and aggrieved. Maybe someone in the family died.....or ended up treating him/her wretchedly. Maybe someone lost a good job for no good reason. Maybe someone lives in a really crappy hole of an apartment and is *ashamed* of his own home....

Or, maybe someone is just dead tired of being alone all the time and having to do it all by himself.

Point is....the best thing you can do is to *prove* in abundance to someone with depression that People Do Not Suck. Show up, be there, listen and be kind. And yeah, I won't lie, there are risks with this....some folks with a mood disorder might try to take advantage of you and push you to do stuff for them--to enable them to have a problem, like substance abuse for example.

But for the most part, for the *overwhelming* most part, it doesn't hurt and will NOT kill you to be friendly and just talk with people. Note the word choice: Talking "with" them means give and take, talking and listening too. If you can't get a word in edgewise, it's a problem....and if you find yourself preaching, that is a problem too. So yeah, talk "with", not "to" and especially not "At". :)

Hope this helps....and I hope you develop good habits and friendships that last beyond the holiday season. :) We aren't all bad people you know.

Answer 5

Volunteer at senior centers or nursing homes - visit with the people there. Some of them just need someone to talk too or listen to them.
Some cities/towns have suicide hot lines, they teach you how to talk and react before they put you on the phones to help others.
Also many hospitals let people come in to talk to the patients and cheer them up.
You don't need to do anything special - just be there to listen and talk to them and maybe read to them etc.

Answer 6

wicked stats

For people who are alone: just be there for them or try and make sure someone is

For people who are depressed: just be there for them or try and make sure someone is

Unfortunately theres not a lot we can do but by someone being there for them it certainly will take their mind off the subject of suicide.

Also what we could do with notice is alert the right perople to assist anyone who needs help (i.e. Savation Army, Mental health services).

Answer 7

You cannot help depression except your own. Meds are the only treatment for depression. If you know someone who has to spend the holidays alone, call them and invite them to spend Christmas with you and your family.

Answer 8

Leave 'em alone. If they're depressed and want to kill themselves, let 'em. What'll they do afterward if they don't, kill themselves, anyway? They're not exactly going to be the next president or missionary.

If people want to end their own lives, it's THEIR lives. If something is to be done, it rests in their hands, and not everyone else's. Bring on the thumbs down.

(NOTE- I am not one of those people.)

Answer 9

try talking to them. Sometimes all they need is a good friend to comfort their pain.

Answer 10

Say a prayer for them.