online help for depression?

[bubble2bubble]

Maybe a stupid question, but are there any internet forums which could be helpful to someone with depression?
I've just spoken to a friend I'm really worried about -she's in France so I can't just call round unfortunately - but I genuinely think she is seriously depressed and she just cried for the whole time we were on the phone.
She has seen a doctor though they didn't want to treat her as she was a new patient and she didn't have a medical history,( French system very different to here) but has referred her to a psychologist - the first appointment is in January which at the moment feels a long way off. I feel if she was in the UK she could possibly be hospitalised by now as she's just not coping at all. She's on her own, and doesn't have any friends close by - suppose I'm looking for something which might help her get through the next few weeks? It's at the point now that while I will keep phoning I'm not entirely sure if I am helping or saying the right things...Really, really worried - any advice would be great

Sorry that you are so concerned about your friend. Keep phoning - just looking after her in that way helps. It really does. The feeling of loneliness when you are really down is a killer. And it can be so hard to reach out, sometimes even a text message can be too much. So someone who keeps in touch is so important so don't doubt yourself.

Right above this post you see a link to the mn mental health web guide which has some useful stuff in it.

Start with the depression alliance

Also try Glasgow Steps - it is a website about stress but that is often an underlying problem with depression and it has some helpful stuff in it.

Is it too late for her to come to the UK for Christmas?

www.livinglifetothefull.com/

Brilliant - thanks for that
On a positive note at least she recognises there is a problem so maybe looking at some websites like that will make her feel less alone
I would love her to come to the UK for Christmas but don't want to suggest it as I know she has NO money at all
Just had the thought that I could post on the Overseas forum and maybe get some local info for her

you are doing what a good friend would do. you are talking to her. let her let it all out to you,even if it just involves listening. I would have loved to have had someone to talk to when i had my breakdown many years ago.

Do you know the cause of her depression.

Hard to say what's caused it. Doctor apparently said "maybe it's genetic" which I diodnt' think was particularly helpful
She moved to follow a man she was involved with & that hasn't particularly worked out but she is very scared of being on her own. Doesn't have much to fall back on - mother died when she was young, father elderly & frail. She does have friends, but scattered around the country rather than anywhere near

• I think she's desparately lonely

We were chatting on Facebook and she sounded so miserable I phoned and she just cried & cried - it was dreadful - but I guess maybe even just doing that is better than being on your own I'm certainly not an expert but I wonder if she was in the UK if she wouldn't just be hospitalised for a few days Anyway, going to keep checking in on Facebook & texting etc just so she knows I'm here

Should have said also she had what sounded like a breakdown a few years back and it did seem to stem from dreadful loneliness