How can I help a loved one who is 

depressed?

If you know someone who has depression, first help 

him find a doctor or mental health professional and 

make an appointment.

• Offer him support, understanding, patience, and 

encouragement.

• Talk to him, and listen carefully.

• Never ignore comments about suicide, and report 

them to his therapist or doctor.

• Invite him out for walks, outings and other activities.

If he says no, keep trying, but don’t push him to take 

on too much too soon.

• Encourage him to report any concerns about 

medications to his health care provider.

• Ensure that he gets to his doctor’s appointments.

• Remind him that with time and treatment, the 

depression will lift.

How can I help myself if I am 

depressed?

As you continue treatment, gradually you will start 

to feel better. Remember that if you are taking an 

antidepressant, it may take several weeks for it to start 

working.Try to do things that you used to enjoy 

before you had depression. Go easy on yourself.

Other things that may help include:

• See a professional as soon as possible. Research 

shows that getting treatment sooner rather than later 

can relieve symptoms quicker and reduce the length 

of time treatment is needed.

• Break up large tasks into small ones, and do what 

you can as you can. Don’t try to do too many things 

at once.

• Spend time with other people and talk to a friend 

or relative about your feelings.

• Do not make important decisions until you feel better.

Discuss decisions with others who know you well.
Men and Depression 

What is depression? 

Everyone feels sad or irritable sometimes, or has trouble 

sleeping occasionally. But these feelings and troubles 

usually pass after a couple of days.When a man has 

depression, he has trouble with daily life and loses 

interest in anything for weeks at a time. 

Both men and women get depression. But men can 

experience it differently than women. Men may be more 

likely to feel very tired and irritable, and lose interest 

in their work, family, or hobbies.They may be more 

likely to have difficulty sleeping than women who have 

depression.And although women with depression are 

more likely to attempt suicide, men are more likely to 

die by suicide. 

Many men do not recognize, acknowledge, or seek 

help for their depression.They may be reluctant to talk 

about how they are feeling. But depression is a real and 

treatable illness. It can affect any man at any age.With the 

right treatment, most men with depression can get better 

and gain back their interest in work, family, and hobbies. 

“My daily routine was shot. I 

didn’t have the energy to do 

anything. I got up because the 

dog had to be walked and my 

wife needed to go to work. The 

day would go by and I didn’t know 

where it went. I wanted to get 

back to normal. I just wanted to 

be myself again.” 

—Jimmy Brown, Firefighter 
What is depression?

Everyone feels sad or irritable sometimes, or has trouble 

sleeping occasionally. But these feelings and troubles 

usually pass after a couple of days.When a man has 

depression, he has trouble with daily life and loses 

interest in anything for weeks at a time.

Both men and women get depression. But men can 

experience it differently than women. Men may be more 

likely to feel very tired and irritable, and lose interest 

in their work, family, or hobbies.They may be more 

likely to have difficulty sleeping than women who have 

depression.And although women with depression are 

more likely to attempt suicide, men are more likely to 

die by suicide.

Many men do not recognize, acknowledge, or seek 

help for their depression.They may be reluctant to talk 

about how they are feeling. But depression is a real and 

treatable illness. It can affect any man at any age.With the 

right treatment, most men with depression can get better 

and gain back their interest in work, family, and hobbies.

Men and Depression

“My daily routine was shot. I 

didn’t have the energy to do 

anything. I got up because the 

dog had to be walked and my 

wife needed to go to work. The 

day would go by and I didn’t know 

where it went. I wanted to get 

back to normal. I just wanted to 

be myself again.” 

—Jimmy Brown, Firefighter
What is depression?

Everyone feels sad or irritable sometimes, or has trouble 

sleeping occasionally. But these feelings and troubles 

usually pass after a couple of days.When a man has 

depression, he has trouble with daily life and loses 

interest in anything for weeks at a time.

Both men and women get depression. But men can 

experience it differently than women. Men may be more 

likely to feel very tired and irritable, and lose interest 

in their work, family, or hobbies.They may be more 

likely to have difficulty sleeping than women who have 

depression.And although women with depression are 

more likely to attempt suicide, men are more likely to 

die by suicide.

Many men do not recognize, acknowledge, or seek 

help for their depression.They may be reluctant to talk 

about how they are feeling. But depression is a real and 

treatable illness. It can affect any man at any age.With the 

right treatment, most men with depression can get better 

and gain back their interest in work, family, and hobbies.

Men and Depression

“My daily routine was shot. I 

didn’t have the energy to do 

anything. I got up because the 

dog had to be walked and my 

wife needed to go to work. The 

day would go by and I didn’t know 

where it went. I wanted to get 

back to normal. I just wanted to 

be myself again.” 

—Jimmy Brown, Firefighter
What is depression?

Everyone feels sad or irritable sometimes, or has trouble 

sleeping occasionally. But these feelings and troubles 

usually pass after a couple of days.When a man has 

depression, he has trouble with daily life and loses 

interest in anything for weeks at a time.

Both men and women get depression. But men can 

experience it differently than women. Men may be more 

likely to feel very tired and irritable, and lose interest 

in their work, family, or hobbies.They may be more 

likely to have difficulty sleeping than women who have 

depression.And although women with depression are 

more likely to attempt suicide, men are more likely to 

die by suicide.

Many men do not recognize, acknowledge, or seek 

help for their depression.They may be reluctant to talk 

about how they are feeling. But depression is a real and 

treatable illness. It can affect any man at any age.With the 

right treatment, most men with depression can get better 

and gain back their interest in work, family, and hobbies.

Men and Depression

“My daily routine was shot. I 

didn’t have the energy to do 

anything. I got up because the 

dog had to be walked and my 

wife needed to go to work. The 

day would go by and I didn’t know 

where it went. I wanted to get 

back to normal. I just wanted to 

be myself again.” 

—Jimmy Brown, Firefighter
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How can I help a loved one who is 

depressed? 

If you know someone who has depression, first help 

him find a doctor or mental health professional and 

make an appointment. 

Offer him support, understanding, patience, and 

encouragement. 

Talk to him, and listen carefully. 

Never ignore comments about suicide, and report 

them to his therapist or doctor. 

Invite him out for walks, outings and other activities. 

If he says no, keep trying, but don’t push him to take 

on too much too soon. 

Encourage him to report any concerns about 

medications to his health care provider. 

Ensure that he gets to his doctor’s appointments. 

Remind him that with time and treatment, the 

depression will lift. 

How can I help myself if I am 

depressed? 

As you continue treatment, gradually you will start 

to feel better. Remember that if you are taking an 

antidepressant, it may take several weeks for it to start 

working.Try to do things that you used to enjoy 

before you had depression. Go easy on yourself. 

Other things that may help include: 

See a professional as soon as possible. Research 

shows that getting treatment sooner rather than later 

can relieve symptoms quicker and reduce the length 

of time treatment is needed. 

Break up large tasks into small ones, and do what 

you can as you can. Don’t try to do too many things 

at once. 

Spend time with other people and talk to a friend 

or relative about your feelings. 

Do not make important decisions until you feel better. 

Discuss decisions with others who know you well. 
How can I help a loved one who is 

depressed?

If you know someone who has depression, first help 

him find a doctor or mental health professional and 

make an appointment.

• Offer him support, understanding, patience, and 

encouragement.

• Talk to him, and listen carefully.

• Never ignore comments about suicide, and report 

them to his therapist or doctor.

• Invite him out for walks, outings and other activities.

If he says no, keep trying, but don’t push him to take 

on too much too soon.

• Encourage him to report any concerns about 

medications to his health care provider.

• Ensure that he gets to his doctor’s appointments.

• Remind him that with time and treatment, the 

depression will lift.

How can I help myself if I am 

depressed?

As you continue treatment, gradually you will start 

to feel better. Remember that if you are taking an 

antidepressant, it may take several weeks for it to start 

working.Try to do things that you used to enjoy 

before you had depression. Go easy on yourself.

Other things that may help include:

• See a professional as soon as possible. Research 

shows that getting treatment sooner rather than later 

can relieve symptoms quicker and reduce the length 

of time treatment is needed.

• Break up large tasks into small ones, and do what 

you can as you can. Don’t try to do too many things 

at once.

• Spend time with other people and talk to a friend 

or relative about your feelings.

• Do not make important decisions until you feel better.

Discuss decisions with others who know you well.
How can I help a loved one who is 

depressed?

If you know someone who has depression, first help 

him find a doctor or mental health professional and 

make an appointment.

• Offer him support, understanding, patience, and 

encouragement.

• Talk to him, and listen carefully.

• Never ignore comments about suicide, and report 

them to his therapist or doctor.

• Invite him out for walks, outings and other activities.

If he says no, keep trying, but don’t push him to take 

on too much too soon.

• Encourage him to report any concerns about 

medications to his health care provider.

• Ensure that he gets to his doctor’s appointments.

• Remind him that with time and treatment, the 

depression will lift.

How can I help myself if I am 

depressed?

As you continue treatment, gradually you will start 

to feel better. Remember that if you are taking an 

antidepressant, it may take several weeks for it to start 

working.Try to do things that you used to enjoy 

before you had depression. Go easy on yourself.

Other things that may help include:

• See a professional as soon as possible. Research 

shows that getting treatment sooner rather than later 

can relieve symptoms quicker and reduce the length 

of time treatment is needed.

• Break up large tasks into small ones, and do what 

you can as you can. Don’t try to do too many things 

at once.

• Spend time with other people and talk to a friend 

or relative about your feelings.

• Do not make important decisions until you feel better.

Discuss decisions with others who know you well.