NAMI HelpLine

Living with depression isn’t just about medical treatment – how you support yourself, a family member or a friend in other ways can also make a big difference.

Helping Yourself

There’s a lot you can do to understand your own symptoms and what you need to feel supported:

  • Learn all you can. Learn about the many treatment options available. Connect with other people experiencing depression in support groups or meetings. Attend local conferences and conventions. Build a personal library of useful websites and helpful books.
  • Recognize early symptoms. Identify possible warning signs and triggers that may aggravate your depression symptoms. With this knowledge, you can recognize an emerging episode and get the help you need as soon as possible. Don’t be afraid to ask your friends and family for help — they can help you monitor your symptoms and behavior.
  • Partner with your health care providers. Give your health care provider all the information they need to help you recover – including any reactions to medications, your symptoms or any triggers you notice. Develop trust and communicate openly. If you don’t feel comfortable with your provider, that’s okay, too. Not all providers will be a good fit for everyone. Consider exploring other options – you might try to find providers that share your cultural background or have worked with people who have similar experiences.
  • Know what to do in a crisis. Be familiar with your community’s crisis hotline or emergency walk-in center. Know how to contact them and keep the information handy. Wherever you are, you can call or text or chat 988, the national Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for support during a mental health crisis.
  • Consider sharing your story. When you are ready there can be great power in helping others and yourself when you share your experience. This can be done in a confidential support group or on larger public platform as you see fit.
  • Find emotional support from others who experience depression. Discuss your thoughts, fears and questions with other people who have the same condition. Connect through online message boards or peer-education programs like NAMI Peer-to-Peer or peer support groups like NAMI Connection.
  • Avoid drugs and alcohol. Some people use drugs and alcohol to cope with symptoms, but these substances can make symptoms worse and interact with mental health medications.
  • Get physically healthy. Eat well and exercise. To relieve stress, try activities like meditation, yoga or Tai Chi. Even walking can improve your health and well-being.

Helping a Family Member or Friend

When someone you love experiences symptoms of mental illness, you face unique challenges yourself, including complex family dynamics, social isolation and often unpredictable behavior. Getting support for yourself is essential for you to be helpful to the person you care about.

  • Learn more about your loved one’s condition. Learning about the condition your loved one experiences will help you better understand and support them. Read personal accounts of lived experience, full of tips and advice on the NAMI Blog:
  • Recognize early symptoms. Depression often has warning signs, such as a low mood, feeling fatigued or having trouble sleeping. Discuss your friend or family member’s past episodes with them to help them improve their ability to recognize the signs early.
  • Communicate. Speak honestly and kindly. Don’t scold or blame people with depression or urge them to “try harder” to “just be happy.” Instead, make specific offers to help and follow through. Tell the person you care about them. Ask them how they feel and truly listen.
  • React calmly and rationally. Even if your family member or friend is in a crisis, it’s important to remain calm. Listen to their concerns and make them feel understood – then take the next step toward getting help.
  • Find emotional support from others. Share your thoughts, fears and questions with other people who have loved ones with similar conditions. Connect with others through online message boards or NAMI peer-education programs.

Additional Resources

  • For advice from professionals, advocates, and other NAMI experts related to depression and other mental health topics, view past recordings of NAMI’s Ask the Expert series
  • For stories from real people about their experiences with mental health, including depression, check out NAMI’s book series: You Are Not Alone: The NAMI Guide to Navigating Mental Health and You Are Not Alone for Parents and Caregivers: The NAMI Guide to Navigating Your Child’s Mental Health.

Reviewed and updated June 2025

NAMI HelpLine is available M-F, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. ET. Call 800-950-6264,
text “NAMI” to 62640, or email. In a crisis, call or text 988 (24/7).