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Helping Him
By Jim Thornton, May & June 2006
Here’s what to do if you think someone you know might be depressed
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Spot the red flags Besides sadness and crying, watch for irritability, worry, withdrawal, dependency, and trouble making decisions. Other tip-offs are changes in sleep or appetite, loss of sex drive, and physical aches.
Take suicide seriously Older depressed men, especially those with guns and a history of alcohol abuse, are at high risk of killing themselves.
Discuss the problem positively Focus on symptoms instead of labels. "You don't have to use the word depression," says Charles F. Reynolds III, M.D., of the University of Pittsburgh.
Avoid accusations Depressed men are already self-critical enough.
Take your loved one to the family doctor Stay in the room. Men with depression do not always give doctors the whole story.
Talk about the family A man will often seek help once he realizes how his mood is hurting his wife or children.
Stay with it Treatment for depression doesn't work overnight. Don't let him give up prematurely.
Take care of yourself "Depression is not only a fatal illness; it's an infectious disease," says Barry Lebowitz, Ph.D., of the University of California, San Diego.
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