Rosalie Crawford of Webhealth www.webhealth.co.nz

People who have lost a loved one due to suicide find themselves having to face the anguish of wondering what could have been done differently by themselves or a health professional. Often we don't realise that a family member who is depressed may also be at risk and it can be very hard to see a loved one struggle with depression.

Family, whänau, partners and close friends of people with depression have found the following strategies helpful:

1. Learn about depression, how it is treated and what you can do to help recovery.
2. See yourself as part of the support team.
3. Try not to see the person as being difficult. Understand the symptoms for what they are.
4. Help the person to recognise stress and find ways of coping. This may include helping to solve problems that worry them.
5. Encourage the person to be more active, but without pushing or criticising them, as this may make things worse.
6. Help and encourage them to lead a healthy life, to exercise and have fun.
7. Spend time with them.
8. Don't be embarrassed to praise them.
9. Encourage them to keep up with their treatment and to avoid excess alcohol and drug use.

10. Take any thoughts of suicide seriously – it's okay to talk about it. Don't leave someone alone if they feel unsafe. Contact a health care provider or a crisis phone line.

If you are caring for someone with severe depression it is important to find ways of getting time-out for yourself and to feel okay about this. Caring for a family or whänau member with depression can be very hard and it is important to keep yourself well.

Resources and information like this from the Ministry of Health about depression can be found on Webhealth BOP www.bop.webhealth.co.nz . There are also crisis phone services available. Youthline is 0800 37 66 33, Lifeline 0800 543 354, Depression Support 0800 111 757, and the Mental Health Services Crisis Response Team for Tauranga region is 0800 800 508.

To find support groups, medical centres, counsellors and other services for Tauranga go to www.bop.webhealth.co.nz – your link to wellbeing. To be connected to Rise Up Tauranga go to the Facebook page ‘Rise Up Tauranga' or email [email protected].

Rosalie Crawford is a medical scientist and lecturer. Email: [email protected], Phone: 0210728255, Skype: Guavablue, Facebook: Rosalie.Liddle.Crawford