How Family And Friends Can Help
How Family and Friends Can Help
The most important thing anyone can do for a man who may have depression is to help him get to a doctor for a diagnostic evaluation and treatment. First, try to talk to him about depressionhelp him understand that depression is a common illness among men and is nothing to be ashamed about. Perhaps share this booklet with him. Then encourage him to see a doctor to determine the cause of his symptoms and obtain appropriate treatment.
Occasionally, you may need to make an appointment for the depressed person and accompany him to the doctor. Once he is in treatment, you may continue to help by encouraging him to stay with treatment until symptoms begin to lift (several weeks) or to seek different treatment if no improvement occurs. This may also mean monitoring whether he is taking prescribed medication and/or attending therapy sessions. Encourage him to be honest with the doctor about his use of alcohol and prescription or recreational drugs, and to follow the doctors orders about the use of these substances while on antidepressant medication.
The second most important thing is to offer emotional support to the depressed person. This involves understanding, patience, affection, and encouragement. Engage him in conversation and listen carefully. Do not disparage the feelings he may express, but point out realities and offer hope. Do not ignore remarks about suicide. Report them to the depressed persons doctor. In an emergency, call 911. Invite him for walks, outings, to the movies, and other activities. Be gently insistent if your invitation is refused. Encourage participation in some activities that once gave pleasure, such as hobbies, sports, religious or cultural activities, but do not push him to undertake too much too soon. The depressed person needs diversion and company, but too many demands can increase feelings of failure.
Do not accuse the depressed person of laziness or of faking illness, or expect him to snap out of it. Eventually, with treatment, most people do get better. Keep that in mind, and keep reassuring him that, with time and help, he will feel better.
Medication as a first-line course of treatment should be considered for children and adolescents with severe symptoms that would prevent effective psychotherapy, those who are unable to undergo psychotherapy, those with psychosis, and those with chronic or recurrent episodes.
Research has enabled many men, women, and young people with cancer to survive and to lead fuller, more productive lives, both while they are undergoing treatment, and afterwards.
Kittery suicide survivor educates children on depression (Portsmouth Herald)
Carol Ann Loehr of Kittery, Maine, has one published book to her credit and numerous articles. All have one focus death by suicide and the illness of depression. Her self-published book, "My Uncle Keith Died," written for children, has proven...
Mental Health support group (Almaguin News)
The Family Mental Health Initiative of Simcoe Countys support group for family members, friends and caregivers of persons with depression and/or manic depression has changed where and when it meets.
How to Treat Depression Effectively (Turks.US)
Most people suffer from anxiety at time. You do not have to neglect it since it can be treated. There are heaps of medications that you can use in order to treat such problems. One of which is pharmaceutical medications such as Tranquillizers, Anti-Depressants and Sleeping Tablets.
Depression blamed for child pornography habit (NZPA via Yahoo!Xtra News)
A 49-year-old man caught through an international child pornography sting avoided jail because of the "brittle state" of his psyche.
Tropical Depression Dean drenches central Mexico (USA Today)
Hurricane Dean, at its height a highly destructive Category 5 hurricane, limped across Mexico on Thursday morning as a weakened tropical depression, but still dumped torrential rains that flooded rivers and drenched mudslide-prone mountains.
Other Depression Article Snippets:
Depression And Suicide
"Antidepressant drugs are not habit-forming, however, as is the case with any type of medication prescribed for more than a few days, antidepressants have to be carefully monitored to see if the correct dosage is being given."
Antidepressant Medication Side Effects
"If successful, this may be a more convenient and safer medication option than the older MAOI tablets."
Psychoterapy
"Sometimes the doctor will try a variety of antidepressants before finding the most effective medication or combination of medications."
Antidepressant Medication Side Effects
"Genetics research indicates that risk for depression results from the influence of multiple genes acting together with environmental or other nongenetic factors."