How do I support a family member with depression?
Support a family member with depression by showing up steadily rather than trying to fix them. Depression rarely lifts through advice; it responds to steady presence, listening without minimizing, and practical help with meals, chores and appointments that illness makes heavy.
Avoid the classics that wound: snap out of it, others have it worse, you have so much to be grateful for. Instead: I am here, this is an illness, treatment works, and I will help you get to the appointment.
Take any talk of death or self-harm seriously and seek urgent help rather than promising secrecy. And keep a line of care for yourself; supporters need support to last.
Source: NHS, depression in adults
See a doctor promptly if
- Any thoughts of suicide, of being better off dead, or of harming yourself. Call or text 988 in the US, any hour, free
- Feeling unable to keep yourself safe, or making any preparation to act on such thoughts. Go to an emergency department or call your local emergency number (911 in the US)
- Being unable to eat, drink, get out of bed or care for yourself for days
- Hearing voices, or fixed beliefs that others say are not real, alongside low mood
- A sudden switch to unusually high energy, little need for sleep and racing ideas. This needs prompt medical review
Try the mood check2 min, free, nothing to installThe PHQ-9 and GAD-7, the two questionnaires doctors screen low mood and anxiety with, scored privately on your device.
Mind and sleepA private mood check, and guides on anxiety, low mood, ADHD and sleep
Answered by the AskDoc Medical Team · Medically reviewed under our Medical Director, MBBS · How we review
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