Psychology

 How to Help Someone with Depression Recognizing symptoms How to help Things to avoid Handling a crisis Do you have a friend who’s living with depression? You’re not alone. According to the most recent estimates from the National Institute of Mental Health, just over 7 percentTrusted Source of all U.S. adults experienced an episode of major depression in 2019. The World Health Organization says, just under 300 millionTrusted Source adults and children live with depression. Recognizing depression symptoms in a loved one Not everyone experiences depression in the same way, and symptoms can vary. If your friend is experiencing depression, they may: seem more sad or tearful than usual appear more pessimistic than usual or hopeless about the future talk about feeling guilty, empty, or worthless more often than usual seem less interested in spending time together or communicate less frequently than they normally would get upset easily or seem unusually irritable have less energy than usu...

 Schizophrenia is a mental health condition that involves a disconnect from reality. Along with symptoms that affect concentration and memory, people living with schizophrenia experience psychosis, which includes hallucinations and delusions. They might lose interest in their usual activities, struggle with self-care, and withdraw from loved ones. These symptoms can have a far-reaching impact. Not only do they often make daily life difficult and contribute to emotional distress, they can also lead to isolation, sleep problems, or substance use — any of which can affect well-being and complicate treatment. If your loved one lives with schizophrenia, you might wonder how you can best offer support. Here’s a look at seven ways to help, along with some tips on what to avoid. Learn more about schizophrenia When you recognize and understand the symptoms of schizophrenia, your loved one’s behavior may seem less confusing or frightening. There’s a lot of stigma around schizophrenia, much o...