Depression sufferers often face daunting challenges alone. But help from relatives can make a big difference.
Family members often want to help those who suffer from depression, but they don’t know how to express their emotions or how best to offer support. Here are some suggestions that may make it easier to help the depressed loved one in your life. While these aren’t guaranteed to make your loved one feel better, offering them can at least create the opportunity for improvement in their emotional well-being.
The high costs of depression
A recent study found that depression costs the U.S. economy $210 billion each year, or about one-quarter of the country’s total mental-health expenditures and 6% of its gross domestic product (GDP). The study also found that only one in five people with depression receive any treatment at all, and that lack of access to care is the number-one barrier to getting better for those who are depressed.
The feeling of being isolated
Feeling isolated is one of the most common symptoms of depression. You might feel like you’re the only person in your family who’s depressed, or that no one understands what you’re going through. And when you feel this way, it’s hard to ask for help or support. Depression sufferers often face daunting challenges alone, but help from relatives can make a big difference. Family members care about how you feel and want to be there for you — they just need an invitation to get involved.
The importance of family support
Sometimes it’s hard to know when you’re struggling with depression, or how to get the support you need. This can be even more difficult if you don’t have someone in your life who knows what it is and how to support you through this difficult time. Family members play an important role in providing emotional, physical and social support for those living with depression.
Ways to get involved as a relative
Families can play an important role in supporting someone with depression. Here are some ways to get involved Talk about how you’re feeling: Your relative may need your emotional support more than anything else, so don’t hold back how you’re feeling even if the conversation is difficult for both of you. The National Institute on Mental Health has developed tips for talking about mental health issues which might be helpful. Support their treatment plan: A family member’s involvement in their relative’s treatment plan can be beneficial and help them stick to their treatment plan. Let them know that you will always be there to talk or provide support, no matter what happens. Involve yourself in their life: Family members should try and maintain as normal a lifestyle as possible while caring for a person who is depressed.
The impact of your support
Depression is one of the most common mental health disorders in North America, affecting about 3.4% of people during their lifetime according to the National Institute for Mental Health (NIMH). Depression is characterized by feelings of sadness, discouragement, and hopelessness that interfere with daily life and disrupt sleep patterns, appetite, concentration, and relationships with others.
There are many ways you can support someone living with depression.
find the topic related E-book HERE https://bit.ly/3PNSRBC