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Tips for starting the conversation

Sometimes it might be hard to know the right thing to say to someone experiencing depression.

These are some ideas of supportive things to say:

• “I’m sorry you’re feeling like this, and I’m here for you.”
• “You’re important to me.”
• “How are you managing?”
• “What can I do to help you today?” Or, if you can, ask something more specific, such as: “Would you like me to come over and keep you company?”

Try to avoid statements like:

• “Cheer up” or “just think positively.”
• “You don’t seem that sad”, or anything that invalidates what they’re going through.
• “Other people have it far worse than you.”
• “You wouldn’t be depressed if you just did some exercise”, or anything that blames them for what they’re experiencing.
• “You’re being selfish,” or “you should think about how this affects the rest of us.”