A Depressed friend needs serious help. advice needed urgently

[iHaveAColinDog]

i have a friend who comes to my home quite regularly butshe suffers with depression. i suffer with depression aswell (i just wont leave the house on my own, i have to have dp with me) but my friend keeps telling me stories of how she nearly jumped out of a window, took scissors to her hair, and she constantly cuts her self and for a few weeks telling me about hows she s tried to commit suicide. she has told me before about different pills etc she s taken and she s an ex nurse so she knows whats dangerous and what isnt (sort of thing) she has 1 SS and 2 SDs plus her DD and DS. her ds is my ds age (2) and im starting to get worried on how its affecting them. her DP is very supportive and they are a nice family etc but i dont think it can go on like this , she is on anti depressants and has been for about a year but they dont seem to be doing anything.

i am very worried about what she ll do next. i dont know if some of its just "stories" i have seen marks cuts burns etc on her.

part of me wants to call some one or just do something, i think it is a danger to the children to keep seeing their mum taking overdoses and slicing her arms with glass and razors. her DD (6yrs) is already pinching herself and banging her head against walls etc.

what do you suggest i do? it really isnt safe there anymore for those children (well not in my opinion)

i just dont know which way i tackle this. i ve tried to be the supporting friend and shoulder to cry on but i cant do it anymore, she needs serious help.

please advise me,

thanx

BUMP
I hope someone can offer some constructive advice as this isn't an area I'd know to advise on very well. I would suggest she talks to her doctor and make sure she's fully up front with him/her about what's going on? As you say, it also seems a great concern for the children that something is done. And would it be a subject you'd chat easily to her DP about?

mmm not really they sort of both think they re dealing with it ok. but she does say the doctors know and she wants more pills of them etc but no one seems to be doing anything, i know its horrible but the last time she done it the hosp sent ss around and her DP said he ll care for them etc but part of me wonders if its a wake up call like that she truly needs??

Do you know who her HV would be ? Maybe you could call her and say that you are concerned about your friend. The HV could then take it further

If SS is aware then phone them if you are very worried.

no im not sure who her hv is but some of what she says is stories and im wondering if when she sais ss knows was it to stop me getting concerned and phoning them myself????

i have to go for a bit i ll be back on later x x x thanx everyone