While feeling sad is perfectly natural in many situations, experiencing overwhelming sadness that impairs normal functioning is a whole different story. Depression is a fairly common mental state characterized by not only overwhelming sadness but, oftentimes, suicidal thoughts as well. When people notice these signs of struggles in their loved ones, they start looking into how to help someone who is suicidal and depressed.
Learning how to help a friend with depression and suicidal thoughts is a challenge and requires emotional investment. We will share with you not only how to help someone that is depressed and suicidal, but also how to take care of yourself in the process. You can rely on We Level Up Washington to assist you in providing support for your loved ones.
Understanding Depression and Suicidal Thoughts
As mentioned above, depression is a mental condition characterized by extreme sadness or despair that´s long-lasting (more than two weeks) which interferes with the activities of daily life. It can cause physical and psychological symptoms. Depression is a fairly common condition, with a global estimated prevalence of 5% in adults. Data from Washington State specifically shows that 1 in every 8 adults believes they have poor mental health.
Suicidal thoughts or suicidal ideations are one of the more severe signs of someone struggling with depression, making people question how to help someone who is suicidal and depressed. Suicidal thoughts are thoughts about taking one´s own life, and they can be both active and passive. While active suicidal thoughts refer to active thinking and planning the act of taking one´s own life, passive suicidal thoughts refer to wishing one´s own death but not making any plans to take action on those desires.
Knowing that passive thoughts can easily develop into active ones and lead to life-threatening situations, understanding and noticing signs of depression is important for anyone looking into how to help a friend with depression and suicidal thoughts.
Recognizing the Signs
There are many signs of depression and not everyone will show the same symptoms. In general, we can speak of three groups of symptoms: psychological, physical, and social.
The psychological symptoms of depression include:
- continuous low mood or sadness
- feeling hopeless and helpless
- having low self-esteem
- feeling tearful
- feeling guilty
- feeling irritable and intolerant of others
- feeling anxious or worried
- having no motivation or interest in things
- finding it difficult to make decisions
- lacking enjoyment in life
- having suicidal thoughts or thoughts of harming yourself
The physical symptoms of depression may include:
- moving or speaking more slowly than usual
- changes in appetite or weight
- constipation
- unexplained aches and pains
- lack of energy
- low sex drive
- Sleep disturbances
The social symptoms of depression may be:
- avoiding contact with friends
- taking part in fewer social activities
- neglecting your hobbies and interests
- having difficulties in your home, work, or family life
While these are general signs of a person struggling with depression, we ought to note that, due to cultural differences and social pressure, men and women might exhibit some differences in symptomatology. Some specific signs of depression in men are anger and risk-taking behavior, while sadness and worry are pervasive signs of depression in women.
How to Help a Friend with Depression and Suicidal Thoughts
When addressing mental health issues, depression included, communication is the key. Communication ought to be non-judgmental, open, and compassionate. When learning how to help someone who is suicidal and depressed, you should learn how and what to communicate.
Here are some things you should communicate to a friend who´s struggling:
- Telling them you are there for them if/when they wish to talk.
- Asking them how they are doing with open-ended questions.
- Asking them if you can do something for them.
- Communicating they are not alone and they can count on you.
- Saying they are important to you.
- Validating their emotions.
There are also things you should not be saying, as they will cause damage rather than help them. Here are some examples of what not to communicate:
- Calling their condition a passing state that will just go away.
- Advising them just to move more or change diet because that helped you.
- Saying they should just think positively.
- Comparing their state with people having it worse.
Sometimes bad communication comes from the best of intentions, which is why it´s very important to be mindful and seek advice from experts if you feel unprepared to help a friend struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts.
Providing Support and Encouragement
You might support a loved one who´s struggling with depression by providing some instrumental support in addition to emotional support. People typically feel overwhelmed while struggling with depression and lack the will to do even the simplest of chores. One of the ways you can help out is by taking on some of those daily tasks, maybe by helping them clean or prepare meals.
Seeking professional help is typically difficult for someone struggling with any mental health issue. Other than fearing stigma, they might not know where to start. This is why a frequent solution for how to help someone that is depressed and suicidal is encouraging them to seek professional support and even doing some research on it in their stead. You might investigate mental health centers in your environment and ask questions to determine who can help your friend. Also, you can always reach out to We Level Up Washington for free and non-binding advice.
Encouraging Professional Help
Sometimes, the best answer to the question of how to help a friend with depression and suicidal thoughts is to point them to depression treatment centers Washington State. Although support received from loved ones is irreplaceable, oftentimes, the symptoms are so severe that only professionals can help find a way out of the darkness of depression.
Experts at We Level Up Washington will conduct a thorough evaluation to determine the type and severity of depression. We will also collect information on medical health and family history to ensure we understand one´s condition fully. All this information is confidential, and we use it to tailor each of our treatments to the client’s needs, preferences, and circumstances.
We rely on FDA-approved medicines when needed but insist on psychotherapy (individual or group) to address underlying issues and causes of depression. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a golden standard for treating mental health conditions, and we rely on it to identify irrational beliefs and related maladaptive thoughts and behaviors. To help find a fine balance between change and acceptance, we employ dialectic-behavioral therapy (DBT).
In addition to that, various forms of group therapy are available. Sometimes it´s beneficial to include families in the treatment process and in some cases, a group of strangers in a support group gives the best results.
Self-Care for Supporters
Being a caregiver can be exhausting. Worrying for someone else requires being mentally present, attentive, and emotionally invested. And while you are doing it out of genuine care for a friend, don´t forget that the answer to how to help a friend with depression and suicidal thoughts should not imply sacrifying yourself.
Take care of your mental health as well. There are several things you can do: from spending more time in nature, practicing mindfulness, meditating, or doing yoga, to finding a support system for yourself. That support might come in the form of sharing care for the friend struggling with another person or building your own support system with other friends and family. Finally, you can also seek professional help. Psychotherapy and counselling should be part of one´s mental hygiene and a way to prevent mental health issues from happening.
Help a Loved One Today
Learning how to help a friend with depression and suicidal thoughts and then actually providing support can fill you with a sense of joy and a sense of purpose, but it can also be exhausting. When looking into how to help someone who is suicidal and depressed, keep in mind that you can always turn to professionals for advice and help.
We Level Up Washington will gladly take on the role of supporter for both people struggling with depression and their loved ones trying to aid them. We know what you are going through and can help you not only overcome current struggles but also find inner strength to face any potential future challenges. Call us and have a chat with one of our specialists. We can offer guidance and support.
Sources:
https://www.apa.org/topics/depression
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/depression
https://doh.wa.gov/sites/default/files/legacy/Documents/1000/SHA-MentalHealth.pdf
Photos used:
https://www.pexels.com/photo/boy-sitting-on-ground-leaning-against-brickstone-wall-262075
https://www.pexels.com/photo/couple-holding-hands-over-table-4046987
https://www.pexels.com/photo/stressed-black-man-with-dreadlocks-in-psychological-office-5699455
