Today is Blue Day, also known as World Mental Health Day. As the idea of the day is to help raise awareness of depression and anxiety, I thought it might be useful for me to give a few suggestions as to how to help someone suffering from anxiety or depression. So here’s the simple answer to what can I do to help someone suffering from anxiety or depression - ask them how you can help.

Ask them what you can do - do they need a meal cooked? Do they need someone to take them out for coffee, to watch stupid movies with, to sit with them quietly? Do they need someone to pray with them (if you’re the praying type) or for them, someone to drive them to the doctors or just someone to talk to? They may not know what they want or need but just offering can help them to feel someone cares.

The other big thing is to put it in writing that you care. When you’re depressed it’s easy to believe that no one cares, that no one would miss you if you were dead. But if it’s in writing (and if you can organise a number of people to put it in writing) it becomes hard evidence and it becomes harder to believe that no one cares.

Above all, don’t be scared and don’t pretend like there’s nothing wrong. Admit you don’t know what to do or how to help but that you want to help. One in five people will suffer major depression in their life at some point. It could be you next time, so treat the person the way you would want to be treated. With love, gentleness and compassion not condescendingly but thoughtfully.

Have a great Blue Day,

love,

ali