...to ask your advice on helping friend?

[poposaurus]

I have a very dear old friend who confided in me that they are feeling very unhappy & low recently. She said she is struggling to get out if the house & doesn't see the point in doing much. When she told me I didn't know what to say & gave some really lame advice about seeing her GP.
We are meeting again this weekend & want to offer some better support but don't know what the right thing to say is, i don't really have any experience of depression.
Any advice from anyone who's been through this?

Have a look at the MIND website as there’s a lot of useful information on there. Give her the contact details of Samaritans so they can access it if they want.
But mainly, just listen. Check if they want advice or someone to offload to as the responses are quite different. Acknowledge how they feel but that doesn’t mean you have to agree with how they react to the stresses.
As I say, mainly just listen.

Have her over to sleepover, stay up late watching films, order pizza. Or do it at hers if she can't face leaving the house. Sometimes it's just nice to feel another's presence.

When you meet try and take her out for a nice walk. She may find it easier to open up but also there is less pressure as you can talk about what you see and enjoy any silences just watching the world.

Check in via text when you can but don't always just ask how she is but share things you're up to. A friend recently told me that this helped her feel in touch with people without talking about herself too much.

Gp advice is good. She should go and see her gp and be honest about how she’s feeling.
She should ask for a blood test too as she could be low in something.

As a pp said, go out for a walk with her. Especially if there’s a nice local park or nature area. Being in nature can be very soothing.
Suggest some vitamin supplements and check she’s eating some decent food as all these things can affect moods.
Just keep taking to her too.

Ask her. Is there anything I can do? Just knowing you know might be enough.

It's really good that she has opened up to you. Just going out and talking to you is a good thing, ask her if there is anything you can do. The Dr is good offer to go with her. And just gentle check ins is good, knowing someone cares really helps

Having been your friend..... keep in touch. Keep asking her to spend time with you but reassure that it is okay if she doesn't want to. Be specific though - would you like to go for a coffee at ... or shall I bring round cake? This means she doesn't have to motivate herself to think where and has the get out clause that she can stay in. Be prepared to be rejected over and over.
My friend brought thoughtful little gifts to show she was thinking of me - a card, a magazine etc which was lovely.
Above all - & I know this may sound odd but - be you. Lots of people don't know how to act and worry about it in a way they don't a physical illness. She needs you. Her friend. You've got this. You've been her friend for years. You know how to do it:

You're already doing right things. Listen and spend time. Don't expect her to feel better. But just be there for her. If it carries on for a while it can be draining on you to be her friend through this so take care of yourself too and try to support her and be there without taking her problems on as your own.
GP was a good steer. Also NHS mood zone website: www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/

What @cheeseycharlie says is the approach I’d take too . Listen, encourage her to get Gp support.

Thanks so much for all the advice- really useful & practical. We are meeting for lunch Sunday so I've organised where & when & will suggest we go for a walk afterwards. I hope I can help her through this!

Maybe phrase the walk suggestion as you having enjoyed a delicious lunch so would love a little walk to get your metabolism going and extend the time together - that way your friend might feel she’s doing you a favour going for the walk.