Hi guys, I'm doing really well myself at the moment, but I really need advice on how to help my friend.
This friend of mine deals with really bad depression. They have been struggling with it as long as I've known them (many years). I have had a long difficult journey with mental health too, so I feel like I should be able to help them, but it just seems like I can't. I've tried lots of ways to be a supportive friend. A lot of times I let them talk through their thoughts with me, but those conversations don't seem to make them feel any better. I've told them all about my journey and what has helped me in hopes it might help them too. I've researched psychologists for them and offered to go with them to appointments to support them.
I have encouraged them many times to go to the doctor and get a mental health plan. What constantly happens with this person though is they might go to the doctor once or take medication for a couple weeks and then give up. They have tried therapy a couple of times but it always trails off. I am starting to get seriously worried about this person as they aren't coping at all. I told them this and told them I'd like to help them make a plan and help them get help, but they say no to all my suggestions. They don't want to hear any ideas or solutions. I can see that they are in so much pain that they aren't thinking rationally and are caught up in a lot of dark thoughts about how nothing can ever change for them. I know when you feel like that it's hard to listen to advice, so what can I do?
