My sister might have depression. What do i do? Please help?

My big sister was the girl who was always smiling at school and at home. But after moving into a new city, she changed dramatically. She is still the cheery girl at school but at home, she crys everyday. Her door is always locked and the curtains are never open. She draws pictures of girls hanging themselves, blood, knifes, emo stuff like that. Recently, when i had to sleep in her room, she was talking about killing herself in her sleep. She shows every symptom of depression and I have talked to my mom but she isn't taking it seriously. I am pretty sure that the cause of her depression isn't only from school but from home. My dad is very harsh on her and she tells me how she wants to kill him. He always hurts her really bad with verbal abuses. I'm going to be gone for 2 weeks for a swim competition in Hawaii. I'm scared that she might do something stupid while I'm gone. What am I supposed to do? Home is not safe for her. Do I suggest her to go to some shelter? Please help my sister.

You might want to talk to a school counselor about your sisters problem.

Has she been cutting or self harming? If she has, you need to talk to someone who will take it seriously RIGHT AWAY!

This is a serious issue, and if your mom is not being serious about it, then she is showing a lot of immaturity. Be the mature one and get help for your sister.

When you leave for your trip, make sure you talk to your sister about your feelings of her not doing something bad, and tell her how much you love and care about her and how you would be so torn if something happened to her. Tell her if she ever needed help, you were just a phone call or text away.

And as for your father, if he is verbally abusing her, talk to him about it or have her talk to him about it. If he physical or sexual abuses you or your sister, call the police straight away!

Could your sister possibly stay with a friend while you are gone? Just make sure she is safe and kind of cheery again while you are away (And when you are still home, of course).

I hope things get better. =)

If you believe that your sister could either harm herself or someone else, and if your mom isn't supportive, you have a duty and obligation to go to a mental health professional and tell them what you know. The best source for that is to go to your sister's school and ask to speak to whomever is responsible for mental health at the school. The school will have an obligation to investigate and will seek shelter and care for her if necessary.

If she moved to a new city I'm assuming she is over the age of 18 and can get help on her own? If not sorry for the assumption. But what she is thinking/doing sounds really serious and she needs some sort of help. Is there anyone you know or she knows that would be willing to keep an eye on her while you are gone? I was like this too and my parents thought it was a joke too. If home isn't safe, than is there a relative or friend that could take her in? If there is anyway you could try to talk to her into getting help, whether it be seeing a therapist or going to the hospital if she is really showing signs of suicidal behavior? Maybe just try getting her to join an online support group that where people with depression help each other cope, even that can possibly help greatly. Does your mother know what is all going on? Like does she know about the drawings? If your parents won't do anything, maybe another person is willing to help her, like another relative.

It sounds to me like your sister is in real trouble and your father probably has a lot to do with it and your mother isn't helping either. Can you get the number of the child abuse hotline and call them and tell them what's going on? Maybe they can tell you where your sister could go to talk to a counselor. If she had someone to talk to it would help. Or talk to the guidance counselor at your school and ask her what you should do.