If someone you knew had major/severe/suicidal depression....

[AnotherGreenWorld]

what would you do? Anything?

[LisaM]

1. Someone I know did have this.

His parents and sister alternatively came out to stay with him and worked with his friends to make sure that he stayed on his medication long enough for its effects to work.

Everyone near and dear to him basically just moved in with him - making sure someone was there - till he improved. They also worked to minimize the proximate causes (job stresses, major remodel, loss of control) in his life.

Get involved, that's my advice.

[pitohui]

2. it depends on who the person is

if they are under-age, i think it is pretty much my responsibility to say something to an adult who can do something (this really only came up when i was a teen and aware of someone making a suicidal threat, unfortunately, the treatment of that day didn't seem to do much)

if they are an adult and make threats of suicide, i have to make a decision about the nature of the threat

personality disorder just trying to get attention/force his or her way by playing on my guilt -- i just ignore it and try to avoid that person in the future -- i've also learned the best thing i can do for a bipolar person is to let them go their way and i go mine, as our personality types are NEVER going to agree

person obviously suffering from clinical depression and the threat is a cry for help -- they are an adult and i can't force them but i would strongly suggest that they consider getting treatment from a professional -- i'm just not qualified to do a heck of a lot otherwise

i've learned that just trying to talk a depressed person out of it, i can't do it, i probably just aggravate them more in the end

if it's a family member i think you have more influence in insisting they see a professional, seems almost impossible for me to have such influence over a friend, as they just assume i don't know their insurance situation, their ability to pay for treatment (and i probably don't!)

[Dangerously Amused]

3. Yep, good advice from LisaM upthread. Stay involved.

[Bossy Monkey]

4. You do everything you can to convey to them that you care, that they are valued

and loved, and that you're there for them in any way you can be...

And if the worst happens, you do not beat yourself up about it; just remember that you did all you could. (I bought this knowledge the hard way.)

[easttexaslefty]

5. error on the side of caution

get involved.