What advise should I give to a friend suffering from depression?

Get help and don't rule out meds. Good luck

The best thing to do is just be there for them. People suffering from depression a lot of times keep things in rather than letting it out and it takes them deeper into that depressive state. What you should do is give your friend a shoulder to lean on, tell him/her how much u love them and that you're always there if ever they need you.

Also get them to tell you everything that's on their heart/mind so that the burden is somewhat taken off their shoulders. he worst thing they could do is keep their feelings to themseves. Help your friend express themself and I hope they get better soon.

tell them with enough love and friends and family you can make it, tell them that there's hope and that when everything doesn't seem to make sense there clarity. that you can get through this even tho sometimes it feels like a losing battle hold on for just a bit longer. find something that interests you so that it can be a distraction and for a purpose, maybe things look bad at the moment but things do get better and maybe you can learn something from this experience. stay positive and remember that you are not alone.

If they haven't sought help for their depression, make sure they do, go with them for support.
If they aren't on medication, suggest kindly that maybe it would help immensely with their problem if they were - that's what it's there for.
There's help out there if they are willing to make the first step.
It's very hard, but worth it.

People get depression when they see no reason to live..no reason for them being alive...they need to find something they really enjoy. I used to get bad depression until I started doing music. I sing and produce semi professionally now and anytime I feel cheated, good or excited or depressed I write a song that I can make money from! It might be that they are quite creative or sporty...tap into that somehow. HAVE NEW EXPERIENCES......and if all else fails tell them to make DRASTIC CHANGES to their life. They may have a family but they obviously need some time out to get happy. An unhappy person will bring everyone around them down and believe me that is very unhealthy. They need to get better, they need to think about themselves....although not too much thinking..more doing!

A multidimensional approach to treating depression without medication follows. All except for no. (7.) are safe to use with medication, but not St. John's wort, because of interactions, and it's sensible to check out anything else first with your doctor.

(1.) Take 4 Omega 3 fish oil supplements, daily: (certified free of mercury) it is best if consumed with an antioxidant, such as an orange, or grapefruit, or their FRESHLY SQUEEZED juice. If vitamin E is added, it should be certified as being 100% from natural sources, or it may be synthetic: avoid it.

(2.) Work up slowly to at least 20 minutes minutes of exercise, daily, or 30 - 60 mns, 5 times weekly. Too much exercise can cause stress, which isn't wanted when dealing with depression.

(3.) Occupational therapy (keeping busy allows little time for unproductive introspection, and keeps mental activity out of less desirable areas of the brain).

(4.) Use daily, one of the relaxation methods in sections 2, 2.c, 2.i, or 11, and/or yoga, Tai Chi, and/or the EFT, in sections 2.q, 2.o, and section 53, at http://www.ezy-build.net.nz/~shaneris whichever works best for you.

(5.) Initially, at least, some form of counselling, preferably either Cognitive Behavio(u)ral Therapy, or Rational Emotive Behavio(u)ral Therapy.

(6.) Maintain a mood chart, and daily activities schedule, as per page Z.12, in section 2, at ezy build.

(7.) As options, if desired, either a known, effective herbal remedy, such as St. John's wort, 900 mg (standardised hypericin content) 3 times daily, or supplements, such as SAMe, taken with a vitamin B complex which is certified as being 100% of natural origin, or Inositol (from vitamin and health food stores, some supermarkets, or mail order: view section 55).

Also, 80% of people in the Western world have low magnesium levels, and these are known to cause depression & anxiety. Try the magnesium supplement types shown in http://www.real-depression-help.com/ Some of these will be available in pharmacies, or supermarkets.

An improvement can be noticed in as little as a week, if a deficiency is the cause. Also, iodised salt is preferable to regular salt. This is a shortened version of the much more comprehensive post, which may be viewed on page Z.12, in section 2 of ezy build, above, but to gain full appreciation, section 2 really is best if viewed in full.
Print, refer, or show your friend, and see the BEYOND BLUE website, in section 2, on helping depressed people.

I would say "Don't bottle up your anger".
Go to http://www.redirectingselftherapy.com for a full explanation.or http://www.gocure.com (which is just another aspect of the same site), it has downloads of information to print out for your friend) There's also another organisation called co- counselling which holds classes in most American and English cities, which is very helpful for dealing with this situation and it teaches the person to be able to help others also.

Help her keep a structure in her day. Get up and dress at a fixed time, meals, etc.
drag her out of the house. even if she will not like it! the fresh air will help, and it will prevent her from cocooning and retreating into herself.
keep making contact, and try to get her to eat less sugar and carbs. they will make you more tired.

and off course therapy with or without drugs will usually help but only if she is willing.

greetz, Niek

in my case prozac worked beautifully. i only wish i had got help sooner.