Depression will affect 25 percent of women and 10 percent of men at some point in their lifetime, but friends and loved ones sometimes don’t know how to help or react.

“It does no good to say ‘Snap out of it,’” says Dr. Madhukar Trivedi, director of the depression center at UT Southwestern Medical Center. “That will merely cause frustration and guilt on everybody’s part, and may even lead to the depressed person feeling further alienated.”

Dr. Trivedi suggests a few simple, constructive ways to help people with depression:

• Let them know that you are always there to listen if they want to talk.  
• Try not to be judgmental. Realize depression is a disease and be supportive and sympathetic as you would with someone with a cold.
• Offer to go to the doctor with your friend. Depressed patients often forget to tell the doctor about symptoms or aspects of what they experience, so the perspective of a friend can be valuable to physicians trying to help.
• Exercise can sometimes be as effective as drugs, so offer to help someone with depression find time to exercise or offer to exercise with them.
• People suffering from depression tend to want to withdraw from interaction, but when they feel a little better, positive social interaction can help. Invite and a company them to socials, club meetings, sporting events, and other activities.     

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Media Contact: gregg.shields@utsouthwestern.edu