If someone you care about is depressed, you may feel helpless. Maybe you're watching a once-active or happy person slide into inactivity, or you're seeing a good friend lose interest in favorite activities. The change in your loved one's or friend's behavior may be so big that you feel you no longer know him or her.

Here are some things you can do to help:

• Help the person get treatment or stay in treatment. This is the best thing you can do.

  Depression: Helping Someone Get Treatment

• Support and encourage the person.

  Depression: Supporting Someone Who Is Depressed

• Learn about depression. Know the facts and myths about it.
• Be aware of your own and other people's negative attitudes (stigma) toward depression. Do what you can to fight stigma and teach people about depression.
• Be aware of other health problems the person may have, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
• Help the person have good health habits. See "Remember the basics" in Living With Depression.
• Find your own support. Others can give you emotional and practical support when you are helping a loved one with depression.