What To Do When A Friend Is Depressedâ¦
What to do when a
friend is depressed…
How common is it?
…Find Out More About
You know that these school
How common is it?
years can be complicated and
Clinical depression is a lot more
Depression
common than most people think. It will
demanding. Deep down, you
affect more than 19 million Americans
Wh
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are not quite sure of who you
this year. One-fourth of all women suffer
Depression is more than the blues or
at least one episode or occurrence of
the blahs; it is more than the normal,
are, what you want to be, or
depression during their lifetimes.
everyday ups and downs. When that
whether the choices you make
Depression affects people of all ages but
“down” mood, along with other symp-
from day to day are the best
is less common for teenagers than for
toms, lasts for more than a couple of
adults. Approximately 3 to 5 percent of
weeks, the condition may be clinical
decisions.
the teen population experiences clinical
depression. Clinical depression is a seri-
depression every year. That means
ous health problem that affects the total
Sometimes the many changes
among 25 friends, 1 could be clinically
person. In addition to feelings, it can
depressed.
change behavior, physical health and
and pressures you are facing
appearance, academic performance,
threaten to overwhelm you. So,
Is
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o s
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s?
social activity and the ability to handle
it isn’t surprising that from
everyday decisions and pressures.
Depression can be very serious. It has
time to time you or one of your
been linked to poor school performance,
truancy, alcohol and drug abuse, run-
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friends feels “down” or
ning away, and feelings of worthlessness
We do not yet know all the causes of
discouraged.
and hopelessness. In the last 25 years,
depression, but there seem to be
the rate of suicide among teenagers and
biological and emotional factors that
But what about those times
young adults has increased dramatically.
may increase the likelihood that an
Suicide is often linked to depression.
individual will develop a depressive
when a friend’s activity and
disorder. Research over the past decade
outlook on life stay “down” for
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e?
strongly suggests a genetic link to
weeks and begin to affect your
depressive disorders; depression can
There are various forms or types of
run in families. Difficult life experiences
relationship? If you know
depression. Some people experience only
and certain personal patterns such as
one episode of depression in their whole
someone like this, your friend
difficulty handling stress, low self-
life, but many have several recurrences.
might be suffering from
esteem, or extreme pessimism about
Some depressive episodes begin suddenly
the future can increase the chances
depression. As a friend, you
for no apparent reason, while others can
of becoming depressed.
can help.
be associated with a life situation or
D E P A R T M E N T O F H E A L T H A N D H U M A N S E R V I C E S • P U B L I C H E A L T H S E R V I C E • N A T I O N A L I N S T I T U T E S O F H E A L T H
stress. Sometimes people who are
…Be Able To Tell Fact
you can talk to an adult—that’s what a
depressed cannot perform even the
real friend will do.
simplest daily activities—like getting
From Fiction
out of bed or getting dressed; others go
Myth: Telling an adult that a friend
My
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y h
t s
hs
through the motions, but it is clear
about depression often separate
might be depressed is betraying a trust.
they are not acting or thinking as
people from the effective treatments
If someone wants help, he or she will
usual. Some people suffer from bipolar
now available. Friends need to know
get it. Fa
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disorder in which their moods cycle
Some of the most common
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between two extremes—from the
myths are these:
pe
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p. And
depths of desperation to frenzied talk
many parents may not understand the
ing or activity or grandiose ideas about
Myth: It’s normal for teenagers to be
seriousness of depression or of thoughts
their own competence.
moody; Teens don’t suffer from “real”
of death or suicide. It is an act of true
depression. Fa
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friendship to share your concerns with a
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school guidance counselor, a favorite
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Yes, depression is treatable. Between
teacher, your own parents, or another
80 and 90 percent of people with
trusted adult.
depression—even the most serious
Myth: Teens who claim to be depressed
forms—can be helped.
are weak and just need to pull them-
selves together. There’s nothing anyone
…Know the Symptoms
else can do to help. Fa
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There are a variety of antidepressant
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medications and psychotherapies that
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can be used to treat depressive disorders.
Both young people and adults
who are depressed often have a hard
Some people with milder forms may do
who are depressed need professional
time thinking clearly or recognizing
well with psychotherapy alone. People
treatment. A trained therapist or coun
their own symptoms. They may need
with moderate to severe depression most
selor can help them learn more positive
your help. Check the following boxes if
often benefit from antidepressants. Most
ways to think about themselves, change
you notice a friend or friends with any
do best with combined treatment:
behavior, cope with problems, or handle
of these symptoms persisting longer
medication to gain relatively quick
relationships. A physician can prescribe
than two weeks.
symptom relief and psychotherapy to
medications to help relieve the symp
learn more effective ways to deal with
toms of depression. For many people a
Do they express feelings of
life’s problems, including depression.
combination of psychotherapy and med
ication is beneficial.
❏ Sadness of “emptiness”?
❏ Hopelessness, pessimism, or guilt?
The most important step toward over-
❏ Helplessness or worthlessness?
coming depression—and sometimes the
Myth: Talking about depression only
makes it worse. Fa
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: a
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most difficult—is asking for help.
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Do they seem
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❏ Unable to make decisions?
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friendship and concern and giving
❏ Unable to concentrate and remember?
he
h l
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lp th
t e
h y
ey ne
n e
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d?
uncritical support, you can encourage
❏ To have lost interest or pleasure in
Often people don’t know they are
your friend to talk to his or her parents
ordinary activities—like sports or
depressed, so they don’t ask for or get
or another trusted adult, like a teacher
band or talking on the phone?
the right help. Teenagers and adults
or coach, about getting treatment. If
❏ To have more problems with school
share a problem—they often fail to
your friend is reluctant to ask for help,
and family?
recognize the symptoms of depression
in themselves or in other people.
Do they complain of
…Find Someone Who
For More Information
❏ Loss of energy and drive—so they
seem “slowed down”?
Can Help
About NIMH
❏ Trouble falling asleep, staying asleep,
or getting up?
If you checked several of the boxes,
The Office of Communications and
❏ Appetite problems; are they losing or
a friend may need help. Don’t assume
Public Liaison carries out educational
gaining weight?
that someone else is taking care of the
activities and publishes and distributes
❏ Headaches, stomach aches, or back-
problem. Negative thinking, inappropri
research reports, press releases, fact
aches?
ate behavior or physical changes need to
sheets, and publications intended for
❏ Chronic aches and pains in joints and
be reversed as quickly as possible. Not
researchers, health care providers, and
muscles?
only does treatment lessen the severity
the general public. A publications list
of depression, treatment also may
may be obtained by contacting:
reduce the length of time (duration
Has their behavior changed suddenly
your friend is depressed and may
Office of Communications and Public
so that
prevent additional bouts of depression.
Liaison, NIMH
❏ They are restless or more irritable?
Information Resources and Inquiries
❏ They want to be alone most of the
Branch
time?
If a friend shows many symptoms of
6001 Executive Blvd., Room 8184,
❏ They’ve started cutting classes or
depression, you can listen and encour
MSC 9663
dropped hobbies and activities?
age him or her to ask a parent or
Bethesda, MD 20892-9663
❏ You think they may be drinking
teacher about treatments. If your friend
Phone: 301-443-4513
heavily or taking drugs?
doesn’t seek help quickly, talk to an
TTY: 301-443-8431
adult you trust and respect—especially
FAX: 301-443-4279
if your friend mentions death or suicide.
Mental Health FAX 4U: 301-443-5158
Have they talked about
E-mail: nimhinfo@nih.gov
❏ Death?
Web site: http://www.nimh.nih.gov
❏ Suicide—or have they attempted
There are many places in the community
suicide?
where people with depressive disorders
can be diagnosed and treated. Help is
available from family doctors, mental
health specialists in community mental
health centers or private clinics, and
from other health professionals.
For Additional Information
About Depression Write To:
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room
8184, MSC 9663
Al
A l
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Bethesda, MD 20892-9663
pu
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p r
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For free brochures on depression and its
th
t e
h N
e I
N M
I H
M .
H C
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a i
t o
i n
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f I
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M a
H s
a t
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treatment, call: 1-800-421-4211.
so
s u
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e .
d.
NIH Publication No. 01-3824
Reprinted June 2001
