- Provide consistent support. Over time, if you consistently show support, the depressed person will see that you are resolute and may accept your help. ...
- Discuss your feelings. When your help is refused, restate how much you care for the person. ...
- Focus on behaviors. ...
- Agree on professional help. ...
Full Answer
What can I tell a depressed person to convince them to accept treatment?
About a year ago, a reporter from the Wall Street Journal called me and asked, "What is the one thing I can tell a depressed person to convince that person to accept treatment?" The one thing? I told her that each person is unique. What works for one might be damaging for another, not unlike parenting.
How to help a person with depression?
Tips on How to Help A Person with Depression 1 Show you care. Depressed people feel isolated in their pain and hopelessness. 2 Acknowlege the relationship impact... 3 Be informed. Read a brochure or an educational book on depression,... 4 Use a symptom list...
How can I convince my loved one to get mental health help?
It’s also completely normal to have no clue where to start when it comes to persuading a loved one to take the first steps toward mental health help. However, if you approach the conversation with compassion and careful language, you can help them feel supported in finding professional help to make them feel better.
What should I say to my friend who is struggling with depression?
Be supportive in what you say. The point of the meeting is to encourage your friend to get help. If you let them know you will be with them every step of the way, they are more likely to seek treatment and try to get better.
What can you say to convince someone to go to therapy?
Approach the conversation with care and concern, not judgment. When you broach the topic of therapy, begin by expressing that you want to help because you care about the other person. Ask questions and listen to the person's answers carefully and patiently. Listen for ways that therapy could address specific concerns.
Can you convince someone to go to therapy?
You can try to embolden someone to go to therapy, but unless you are willing to offer meaningful support, it's not going to encourage them. Some people do not know where to start when seeking help. Guide them in finding a suitable therapist in the area, depending on their preferences.
How do you help someone get therapy when they don't want it?
Reach out to your own support system. Talk to another friend or family member. Text START to 741-741 or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for a free, confidential conversation with a trained counselor. These counselors can support you and offer advice on how to help your friend.
How do you convince someone to get mental health?
Come to the conversation with compassion “What do you think about the idea of going to therapy?” can be a great conversation starter. Using “I” statements, such as “I'm concerned about you,” may help them feel less lectured or blamed. They also may be more likely to listen if they don't feel attacked.
How do I tell someone I want to go to therapy?
Here are some tips to make talking about it a little easier.Know that there's nothing wrong with asking for help. “It's just like having a hard time in math,” says Child Mind Institute psychologist. ... Bring it up. Pick a low-key moment. ... Explain how you're feeling. ... Say you want help. ... Don't wait.
How do you convince someone?
12 Practical Ways To Persuade Anyone To Do Anything EasilyMake your words powerful. ... Dress up, but don't talk down. ... Focus on the future. ... Make yourself scarce. ... Choose the right medium for your pitch. ... Speak their language. ... Avoid verbal fillers. ... Do something for them.More items...
What to say to someone who is struggling emotionally?
11 ways to help someone struggling emotionallyValidate their emotions. Letting someone know that they are not alone and being open to what they want to share is an important step. ... Just show up. ... Be a good listener. ... Keep things confidential. ... Keep the door open. ... Spend time with them. ... Offer praise. ... Offer practical help.More items...•
How do you talk to someone about their mental health?
Eight tips for talking about mental healthSet time aside with no distractions. ... Let them share as much or as little as they want to. ... Don't try to diagnose or second guess their feelings. ... Keep questions open ended. ... Talk about self-care. ... Listen carefully to what they tell you.More items...
How do you deal with a mentally unstable person?
Tips For How to Help a Person with Mental IllnessTalk to them in a space that is comfortable, where you won't likely be interrupted and where there are likely minimal distractions.Ease into the conversation, gradually. ... Be sure to speak in a relaxed and calm manner.More items...
What will the doctor ask about depression?
The main way a GP will tell if you have depression is by asking you questions about your general health and how the way you're feeling is affecting you mentally and physically. Try to be as open and honest as you can be with your answers.
How can I get my husband to go to therapy?
The Therapy Talk: 8 Ways to Convince Your Spouse to Go to Couples CounselingBe Honest About Your Struggles. ... Don't Play the Blame Game. ... Let Them Know You Love Them. ... Move Past the Stigma. ... Don't Get Defensive When They Get Defensive. ... Be Clear With Your Motives. ... Set Clear Goals. ... Choose A Counselor Together.More items...•
How do you convince someone to do something?
Here are seven persuasive tactics you can use to get what you want from anyone.Be confident. ... Introduce a logical argument. ... Make it seem beneficial to the other party. ... Choose your words carefully. ... Use flattery. ... Be patient, but persistent.
How to know if someone needs help?
In You Need Help! Komrad lists the specific signs — along with real-life examples — that signal an individual needs help. These are some of the signs: 1 Behavior that scares you, such as a significant temper. 2 Problems taking care of themselves or regulating their behavior, such as ignoring basic hygiene, engaging in reckless acts or drinking and acting aggressively. 3 Problems with thinking, such as becoming disoriented, seeing or hearing things that no one else does or forgetting important facts. 4 Intense feelings, such as profound anxiety about leaving the house. 5 Problems interacting with others, such as withdrawing from the people they love. 6 Inability to work, such as not holding down a job or diminishing grades or effort in school. 7 Experiencing trauma, such as abuse or the death of a child.
What to do when you feel unsafe?
If you’re feeling unsafe for any reason, articulate that to the authorities. If you’re uneasy about bringing your loved one home, communicate that as well. As Komrad said, you don’t want to give the system an easy way out. You want to make sure they grasp the gravity.
How much more disabled is someone with depression than someone with angina?
A Step-by-Step Plan to Convince a Loved One to Get Counseling. “On average, a person with depression is at least 50 percent more disabled than someone with angina, arthritis, asthma or diabetes,” according to this report by The Centre for Economic Performance’s Mental Health Policy Group. The good news is that treatments for mental illness are ...
Is mental health treatment effective?
The good news is that treatments for mental illness are highly effective . The bad news is that only one out of three people might actually seek help. And some research suggests that the people who need help the most are typically the least likely to get it.
Do people with mental illness need counseling?
Many people with mental illness simply don’t think they’re sick. That’s why it’s critical for families and friends to step in and help their loved one realize they need to seek counseling. Don’t worry about “meddling” in their lives, Komrad said. Rather, you have the opportunity and power to improve – and in some cases, save — their lives.
How to help a depressed person who is reluctant to seek help?
Focus on behaviors. If the depressed person is reluctant to seek help, then don't try to convince the person that depression is causing the problems. Instead, talk about the depressed person's behaviors and the ways in which treatment can help. For example, after you have listened and sympathized with the depressed person's feelings, ...
What not to do when you have depression?
What Not To Do. People with depression are suffering from a medical condition, not a weakness of character. It is important to recognize their limitations. Do not dismiss their feelings by saying things like "snap out of it" or "pull yourself together.".
What to not say to someone who is depressed?
What Not To Do 1 Do not dismiss their feelings by saying things like "snap out of it" or "pull yourself together." (read: Best and Worst Things to Say to Someone Who Is Depressed) 2 Do not force someone who is depressed to socialize or take on too many activities that can result in failure and increased feelings of worthlessness. 3 Do not agree with negative views. Negative thoughts are a symptom of depression. You need to continue to present a realistic picture by expressing hope that the situation will get better.
How to deal with depression in a relationship?
Acknowlege the relationship impact. In a caring way, let the person know that depression affects you and others in the family. Your relationship, including intimacy, household responsibilities, and finances, are all adversely affected when someone is depressed. Be informed.
Is depression a sign of weakness?
Stress that depression is a treatable, medical condition, like diabetes or heart disease, not a sign of weakness. Assure the person that people with depression do feel better with the appropriate depression treatment. Use a symptom list. Go through the depression symptom list with the person who is depressed or have the person take ...
Do people with bipolar disorder have a lack of insight?
In addition, people with depression have negative thoughts and feel so hopeless that they do not see recovery as a reality. Fifty percent of people with bipolar disorder have a lack of insight (anosognosia), so they do not realize they are ill. For example, people with bipolar disorder may believe they are a "high-energy person.".
Why don't people start psychotherapy?
Depressed people often don't start psychotherapy because they're afraid they'll spend the rest of their lives on the couch like Woody Allen. This does happen, but it's possible to be a smart consumer of mental health. Set reasonable goals with a therapist or psychiatrist and set a timeframe to accomplish that goal.
Can you learn to chip away at adversity?
Then you can chip away at the adversity in a way that makes sense. But you can learn to stubbornly refuse to be miserable while you chip away at the adversity. Some adversity takes a long time to modify so by changing your beliefs first you can enjoy life until the circumstances of life change. Reply to Anna Vu.
