Help me support my friend - don't know what to do :(

[maybenow]

a very very good friend of mine who i've known since university has MH problems which surface every now and again and right now she's in a bad patch on another continent.

she was passed from pillar to post with Bipolar and Depression diagnoses through her 20s but then was diagnosed BPD about five (?) years ago.. she was on meds but stopped taking them through gradual reduction just before she moved (temporarily) out of the UK for work about two years ago.

things have generally been good for her till recently when her partner ended their relationship and now i'm worried she's falling apart she was back here for a visa-related visit when he ended it with her and she didn't want to go back but obviously had to (her job there lasts until christmas this year). i've been emailing and it sounds like she's functioning at work (just) but she feels she's doing a terrible job, she is paranoid, feels everybody hates her, and she has no usefulness in the world at all

I don't know what to do except to email her every couple of days and assure her many people love her and care for her....

anybody know what i can do? if she was in the UK i'd probably push her to go to the GP for meds but not sure whether that's an option where she is now (not sure about attitudes to and treatments for MH problems there).

I just wanted to mark this as my BF suffers from MH issues (14 yrs plus)and has just come through the other side of 4 months of darkness....whilst she was ill I emailed her some websites and although at the time I didn't realise she had looked at them, she recently told me she had, and that they were helpful. I'll find the email and send the links for you.....xx

ps you sound a lovely friend xxx

Do both of you have Skype? You can also encourage her to exercise and get sunlight, both will help although they only cure mild depression.

Tenminutes - thanks, please do send the websites. My friend is quite cerebral and 'knows' a lot about her illness but it doesn't help her in the reality of it

We do have skype.. good piont about the exercise (sunshine probably not an issue where she is) i will encourage her to get back to her yoga (the only thing she likes and most available there except simply walking).

I'm so sorry I'm late with these;
Www. Blurtitout.org - a charity with a mentor facility (online) and blogs
Www.blackdogtribebeta.com - ruby wax set this up
Www.mind.org.uk
Www.rethink.org
Bottom two are helpful about understanding MH but probably not as interactive as the first 2.

I kept in contact with my friend every week, although in a way I feel that stressed her out as she didn't want anyone to worry or add to anyone's plate, so each vmail or txt I left I made sure I said "no need to call me back, I just wanted to say hi" xxx

I hope she turns a corner soon; and if she has started new meds these take 6-8 weeks to take hold, and if she is on meds, she must consult her doc before changing her dosage. This is what my friend did and spectaculary crashed and burned....but now on new meds with a fantastic help from her doctor means she is on the road to sunshine :-)