Here is a link to a blog article about depression and what well intentioned people shouldn’t say to anyone who is depressed. The interesting thing about what not to say is that most people will be tempted to say at least one of the eleven listed because they seem so, well, helpful or distracting or humorous.

None of these eleven statements are helpful to people suffering from depression. Depression can be situational or a person may have a genetic predisposition for depression and, in either case, there are better things to do. For one, encouraging a depressed person to share with you what they’re feeling then listening and responding with empathic statements like, “It sounds like you’re having a hard time right now,” or “Tell me how you’re feeling so I can try to understand.” Taking the time to listen without comparing what they’re saying to what you feel or your Aunt Gertrude feels can be very comforting and even helpful to a depressed person.

Here’s the link to what not to say: www.medicalbillingandcoding.org/blog/11-things-you-should-never-say-to-someone-with-depression