How you can help a loved one who struggles with depression

It's the little things that can make a big difference for someone battling depression. Here's 5 things you can do to help a loved one with depression: 

1. Invite them to a social gathering with people. Not a huge party, but even just coffee with you at a coffee shop, or a small quiet group of friends watching a movie together.
    
2.  Offer to pick them up and take them to the event. Make it as easy and effortless to participate as possible.  Make sure the gathering is low key and expectations are low.
    
3. Making decisions can be very difficult for people who struggle with depression. Help them by giving them easy choices.  Pick or organize an event or show you know they’d like.  If needed, make childcare arrangements for them.
    
4. Go for a walk or a bike ride with them.  Take them to a gym. While they may not always feel up for it, exercise, being in the company of others, and spending time outdoors can help. 
    
5. Caring for someone with depression is hard and can lead to burnout.  Make sure you assemble a team of people who can help support the person, as well as you.

Help is available

If you believe a loved one is considering suicide, you should know that help is available.  In addition to Emergency rooms and crisis hotlines, every county in the metropolitan Twin Cities area has a mobile crisis team. Mobile crisis teams are trained to help.  They can talk to your loved one, offer transportation to a safe place, and connect them with resources and professional support. 

Response time for a mobile crisis team can be a few hours.  

In immediately life-threatening or extremely dangerous situations, please call 911.

Examples of situations when the local county Mobile Crisis Team should be called:

1. When you think someone you know is in danger of committing suicide
2. When you notice disruptive, suddenly bizarre, or out-of-control behavior of an adult or child.
3. When you are a parent who needs to place your children in the Crisis Nursery.
4. When you need support in caring for someone who is struggling with mental illness or emotional disturbance.
5. When there has been a domestic or sexual assault.
6.  If you have general questions about handling a crisis or need to be referred to professional resources.

How to reach your local crisis team:

1. Anoka                  (763) 755-3801
2. Carver/Scott       (952) 442-7601
3. Dakota                 (952) 891-7171
4. Hennepin             (612) 596-1223 (adults)      (612) 348-2233 (children)
5. Ramsey                (651) 266-7900 (adults)      (651) 774-7000 (children)
6. Washington         (651) 777-5222

10 Questions to Help Identify Suicide Warning Signs

Most who consider suicide will give a loved one warning signs about their plans for suicide. But what exactly are those?

To identify warning signs, ask yourself these 10 questions:

1. Do they exhibit or talk about feeling a deep sense of hopelessness about the future, with little expectation that circumstances can improve?
2. Are they talking about death a lot or making oblique references to it?
3. After a period of depression/moodiness, have they suddenly and unexpectedly become calm?
4. Are they withdrawing from social activities - especially ones they previously enjoyed?
5. Have they stopped caring about personal appearance?
6. Are they engaging in risky behaviors? Reckless driving? Drugs/Alcohol? Unsafe sex?
7. Has a major life crisis occurred? Death of recent loved one? Divorce? Bankruptcy?
8. Are they putting a lot of their affairs in order? This might include visiting loved ones members, giving away possessions, making a will, and cleaning up his or her room or home.

If you answer yes to these questions, check in with your friend or loved one.  Tell them you’re concerned about them.  Tell them that you care.  Ask them if they’re having suicidal thoughts.  Call the National Suicide Prevention line 1 (800) 273-8255.