How to Help Someone with Depression: Ways to Support a Loved One Who’s Struggling

When someone you love is living with depression, it’s not always easy to know how to help. Do you step in with advice? Should you just listen? What if you say the wrong thing?

In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression, writer and mental health advocate Sam Dylan Finch shares 11 meaningful ways his loved ones supported him through depression, anxiety, and difficult times. These examples—big and small—show how trust, compassion, and simple presence can make all the difference.

Whether you’re a friend, partner, parent, or sibling, you’ll learn practical ways to support someone without overstepping, and how to keep showing up even after the crisis moment has passed.

Primary Topics Covered:

• Why advice often backfires when someone is struggling
• How to navigate the mental health system alongside a loved one
• Supporting someone who struggles with both depression and substance use
• The importance of trust—even when you disagree with their choices
• Why it’s crucial to keep checking in after someone “seems better”
• Balancing caregiver burnout with continued support
• Simple, powerful words that help someone feel safe and cared for

Timestamps:

00:02 – Introduction to the episode and series
 00:46 – Why support matters even when it’s hard to ask for help
 02:46 – #6: Don’t lecture or push treatment advice
 04:42 – #7: Helping navigate the mental health system
 07:20 – #8: Maintaining trust, even in difficult choices
 08:44 – Supporting without judgment in substance use struggles
 10:21 – How to encourage safety planning with compassion
 11:10 – #9: Keep checking in, even when they appear better
 12:33 – #10: Taking a caregiver break without causing harm
 14:15 – #11: Don’t wait for someone to ask for help—reach out
 16:27 – Why ongoing support matters after the “crisis” moment
 20:31 – Two powerful things supporters can say to help someone feel safe
 21:59 – Why we must learn this “support language” for mental health
 22:32 – Closing thoughts and gratitude to guest Sam Dylan Finch

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