What help is available for people with depression or what can I do?

Question

I’m really concerned about one of my mates. She has been suffering from depression for years, she takes the anti depressants but she says they make no difference. The other day she was going to cut her wrist and today she was going to call an ambulance and tell them to pick her up. Obviously she is scared to do it but one of these days she is going to do it. She hardly opens up and tells me what her problems are. What can I do people to help her.

Answer 1

she sounds like she needs more professional help than she's getting at the moment. i assume that u live in the UK ? it's usually pure luck in this country as to whether or not your local NHS has the resources to treat people with depression properly. i struggled for a year trying to get proper help. i was only offered counselling, etc, after things all got too much for me and i ended up in hospital after taking an overdose. and no, i am not recommending that your friend does that ! it was not a happy time in my life, and i wouldn't wish that anyone would have to go through that. but her doctor needs to know just how close she is to harming herself. it's the only way that's she'll get treated with any priority. if necessary, go with her. i know how difficult it is to talk about things when u are depressed. her doctor probably doesn't see just how bad she is right now. she might also need to change doctors. some can still be totally clueless on depression, and will fob u off with anti depressants just to get u out of their office. ask the receptionist who she would recommend as a good doctor to treat depression / anxiety problems. your friend also needs to belive that she is loved and wanted. just little things to help brighten her day. send her an e-card to let her know u are thinking of her (hallmark do some good free cards online), try to encourage her to go out places. this will probably be difficult for her, but if u are with her, and u go somewhere that's not to busy for just an hour or so, it will probably help.... those kind of things need to be done on a regular basis... she needs things to distract her mind so that she doesn't dwell on the negative thoughts in her head. if she's on the internet, u can tell her that there's plenty of people out there who she can talk to. it really helped me a lot to be able to talk to people who's been through depression too, and who i didn't have to see face-to-face. u can pass on my details to her if u want - i've had 5 years experience of depression / medication / counsellors, and i'm willing to help if i can.

Answer 2

You are obviously a very good friend which is a fab help for her. Maybe she needs to up her med's or change them. Get her to see her GP if you can, they can refer her to the Community Psych' Team, who will assess her and hopefully provide her with some therapy. However, this takes a while because of waiting lists. There are free counselling services out there, try your library or again her GP will have a list. Or if she has the funds you can go privately.

Exercise has been proven to help alleviate the syptoms of depression. Even if it's just a brisk walk 20mins three times a week.

Just having a laugh too. I know someone who had a breakdown and she says one of the things that picked her up was a good friend coming around and taking her to the local swings-she MADE her go on all the rides to 'get in touch with her inner child again'!!
Hope this helps a little. Good luck to you and your friend xx

Answer 3

There are ways of treating depression that are web based. Get your friend to ask her doc if she can use an online tool that can help with depression. There is a company called ULTRASIS that were in the news last year that have developed this revolutionary way of treating depression and some healthcare trusts are using it already. I think the product is called "beating the blues" and I am sure there is more on line if you web search it.
Not a guaranteed solution but it may help your friend. Good luck,

Gavin

Answer 4

I have suffered with long term depression for around 10 years now and used a variety of anti-depressants, currently using Citalopram 40mg daily, I have been referred for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy which apparently works really well and helps you to deal with the things that make you depressed rather than delving into the passed like councilling. Maybe she could ask her GP about that , but the waiting lists here in UK are long but worth the wait.

Answer 5

Look I have had depression for four years now, I have also thought of cutting my wrists and well I never got to do it. What my family decided to do was sit down and talk to me and well they got me involved into activities, like now we have soccer matches and well that took up most of the day so I never got a chance to think of anything bad just making the goal on the other team. My advice to you is take her out somewhere, if she likes movies take her, if she likes sports well take her out to play and things like that. Then maybe she can see that life is good and well she will not have a chance to think about bad things.

Answer 6

her Dr. or therapist need to know that she is wanting to cut herself. You need to talk to her about asking the Dr. for different meds. Sometimes you have to go through several meds to find the one that works just right. What about getting a few times a week and take to a nice lake or park and the 2 of you walk and talk...not about what is bugging her....once she is comfortable she will open up.....but the idea of walking is that exercising helps release serotonin in the brain, and this helps with depression....Good luck to you and your friend.....you are a really good friend you know.

Answer 7

She needs to speak to her doctor who can get her proper support.
If she does not feel that will help get her to call the samaritans

In the UK dial 08457 90 90 90, for the cost of a local call.

In the Republic of Ireland dial 1850 60 90 90, for the cost of a local call.

Answer 8

hello friend.
you have a serious problem here.
1. does she have any guilt or is there a persistingly suffocating home situation which pulls her down?
2. she definitely needs help of a shrink. pls encourage her to visit one.
3. plsssssssssss ask her to do some mind relaxing activities like reiki, yoga, meditation.
there is a site, www.sahajayoga.org. she can get into sahajayoga for FREE. its there in every city. it gives a hindu look, but it has more christain followers, they give some prayers also, christain prayers.
4. REIKI WILL HELP HER TO SLEEP WITHOUT MEDICATION. pls browse, many websites will teach it for free.
if all this duznt work, make sure she sees a psychiatrist/psychologist. there's a name for this disease, in which u want to hurt urself, we read it in graduation, i forget the name.
all the best.
pls feel free to email if u want to discuss something.she can also write to me if she wants.

Answer 9

Obviously the medication isnt working and she needs help. She needs to go back to the Gp and get seen again. A change of medication may help and some therapy which the GP can refer her to.
You have been a good friend, carry on supporting her and understanding her condition.

Answer 10

its vry hard to deal with. all you can do is be there for her.
Tell her to talk to her doctor, if it doesnt help, change doctor.
Changing her diet , and making sure she gets plenty of light ( going for a 20min walk) or any form of exercise every day is very important.
Her depression can be emotional, psychological or hormonal. If its hormonal, she has to take very good care of her health and eating and exercising.
If its emotional, she should speak with a counsellor, tehre are many types out there.
Psycholoical is the medication type. Again talk to her doctor about changing the medication.