Spiritual Support Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. JAMES 5:16 (NLT) Prayer is a powerful weapon in the battle of depression. One of the most troubling symptoms of depression is the lack of emotions and feelings. That numbness often occurs in your friends relationship with God – your friend can sometimes feel that there is a cement ceiling between them and God. Knowing that someoneSEE DETAILS

EMOTIONAL SUPPORT So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you’ll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind. 1 THESSALONIANS 5:11 (THE MESSAGE) You can also offer your friend much needed emotional support. Here are some suggestions: Learn about depression so you are better able to understand what your friend is experiencing, why he or she may be reacting in certain ways and what to expect while your friend is in treatment. It’s okay to ask someone who is battling depressionSEE DETAILS

Practical Support Share each other’s burdens … GALATIONS 6:2 (NLT) The most important practical thing you can do for a friend who may be depressed is to help him or her get both a medical and a counseling evaluation to create a treatment plan. The sooner treatment is started, the sooner the depression will be relieved. You can also help your friend in the recovery process. Here are some suggestions: Encourage your friend to complete the entire course of treatment (counseling, medication, etc). Many people battling with depression want toSEE DETAILS