THE SOUTH AFRICAN DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY

GROUP
NPO 013-085 Reg. No. 2000/025903/08
P O Box 652548 Benmore 2010
Tel: +27 11 262 6396
Fax: +27 11 262 6350
zane1@hargray.com
www.sadag.co.za

HELPING A DEPRESSED FRIEND OR LOVED ONE

1. HELP THE PERSON TO FIND OUT WHAT THEIR MENTAL ILLNESS IS AND GET TREATMENT: Go
with your loved one to clinic, doctor or counsellor to find out what is wrong.

2. SUPPORT GROUPS: Find out if there are any support groups in your area. Sharing fears, worries and
feelings with other people who are in the same situation helps.

3. LEARN ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH ILLNESS: Depression is a disease. Learn about the illness.
The more you know, the more you can help your loved one.

4. CARE AND SUPPORT YOU LOVED ONE: Being with family and friends is very important for the
person to get better. Always tell the person that you care and love them. Look at the good things in
loved ones.

5. LET THE PERSON BE PART OF YOUR LIFE AND EVENTS: Invite your loved one to come with you
and the rest of the family for walks, church and other activities you would normally do. Encourage your
loved one to join in fun activities both new events and things that the person enjoyed before they got
depression.

6. DONT FORCE THE DEPRESSED PERSON TO CHEER UP: Depressed people have REAL feelings.
The depressed person cant just feel better. They are not weak or lazy.

7. LISTEN! Listen to what your loved one says. Most depressed people want someone to listen to them.
DO NOT leave the person out of family discussions because you think that it would be less stressful for
them if they are not involved. Treat the person as normally as possible. Ask the person what they hope,
fear, feel and need.

8. SUPPORT: Support is very important tell the person that asking for help is a sign of strength. Remind
your loved one that he can always get treatment for his illness. Remind the depressed person that they
WILL recover in time.

9. DONT TREAT YOUR LOVED ONE LIKE A CHILD: Remember that the depressed person is not
feeling their best and try to help out where you can. Dont try to do everything for the depressed person
it is good for the person to do some things for themselves.

10. SUICIDE: If your loved one or friend talks about having thoughts of suicide, take it seriously and ask for
help straight away.

If you need any further information for you or a loved one, please call SADAG on 011 262 6396 or
0800 567 567 or sms 31393, we are open 7 days a week from 8am 8pm. You can also go to our
website for more information www.sadag.co.za

The SA Depression and Anxiety Group is sponsored by:

Astra Zeneca (SA) Bristol-Myers Squibb (Pty) Ltd De Beers Dell Inc Eli Lilly (SA) (Pty) Ltd First Rand (Pty) Ltd
Gauteng Department of Health GlaxoSmithKline (SA) (Pty) Ltd Imperial Car Rental (Pty) Ltd
Lundbeck (SA) (Pty) Ltd Nashua Ltd National Department of Health National Lotto Netcare (Ltd) Novartis (SA) (Pty) Ltd
Parke-Med Pharma Dynamics(SA) (Pty) Lt d Pfizer Laboratories (Pty) Ltd Transnet Foundation Aspen Pharmacare (SA) (Pty)
Sanofi-Aventis (Pty) Ltd Wyeth (SA) (Pty) Ltd