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How to Help a Depressed Friend: A Poem of Support to Share

June 5, 2012 Amie Merz, LPC, NCC

Knowing how to help a depressed friend requires your time and patience. If you're willing to help a depressed friend, share this poem of support. Thank you.

We often struggle with how to help a depressed friend. We don't want to minimize his mental illness. We know that she can't just snap out of it by going outside or smiling more. When you know how to help a depressed friend, you realize that helping him through the tough episodes takes time. Silence. Hand-holding. Maybe even folding some laundry. And how you help your depressed friend can be the difference between life and death.

 

This poem, titled I'm Here for You, shows you how to help a depressed friend. Please pass it on to your depressed loved ones if you're willing to spare the time.

I know words won’t take away your pain.
But I’m here for you.

When you feel like no one cares, I do.
I’m here for you.

When others judge, or criticize, or roll their eyes, I won’t.
I’m here for you.

If it’s 3 am and you don’t want to burden anyone, call me.
I’m here for you.

If it seems so dark and the walls are closing in, I’ll be your light and guide you.
I’m here for you.

If you feel like no one understands, I do. I’ve been there.
And I’m here for you.

When you can think of nothing good to say about yourself, I have a long list of good I see in you,
right here for you.

When you can think of no reason to go on, I will be your reason.
I need to be here for you.

When you are upset for no reason, you don’t need to give me a reason
to be here for you.

When you don’t want advice or a lecture, and you just need someone to sit with you,
I’ll sit here with you.

When you feel like you have failed, you haven’t.
You were here for me.
Now I’m here for you.

See Also

APA Reference
Merz, A. (2012, June 5). How to Help a Depressed Friend: A Poem of Support to Share, HealthyPlace. Retrieved on 2024, November 5 from https://www.healthyplace.com/blogs/copingwithdepression/2012/06/depression-poem-for-a-friend



Author: Amie Merz, LPC, NCC

Mary-Ann
May, 22 2024 at 10:52 pm

Hello , Who wrote this poem please ?

May, 27 2024 at 2:25 pm

Hi Mary-Ann!
Unfortunately, the blogger who originally posted the poem is no longer at HealthyPlace. I did an internet search for the poem and could not find the poem titled "I'm Here for You." I would have to conclude that it is an original from the blogger or someone she knows. It is a beautiful post!

gabby
March, 3 2020 at 3:41 am

Wow. This is the best poem to share WD ma depressed frd. Hope he finds t helpful as i av.

March, 3 2020 at 2:55 pm

Hello, Gabby. I'm glad you found this poem helpful. I'm Jennifer, the current author of the Coping With Depression blog. I, too, hope your friend finds comfort in it. He is fortunate to have someone like you in his life. Thank you for commenting on this post.

Cassie
August, 15 2019 at 9:00 pm

I just sent this to my niece. Her father has chosen his girlfriend over her and she has to live with them since they have custody and I feel she and I both needed this

August, 19 2019 at 1:17 pm

Hello, Cassie. Thank you for your comment. I'm Jennifer, one of the current authors of the Coping With Depression blog. I'm glad you found the poem. I hope it will be a comfort to both you and your niece.

johan
October, 2 2018 at 5:53 pm

I found the poem very touching and helpful...send it to my son who is in college and dealing with some depression.

terrytt
March, 7 2016 at 4:59 pm

my friend wrote me and told me he is depressed.i wrote him this poem..nice poem.

Anita Levesque
September, 8 2014 at 7:38 am

Hi Amie,
Thank you for sharing this poem! It's beautiful. My boyfriend lives with clinical depression and this is perfect.

Nicole
March, 10 2014 at 8:32 pm

I absolutely love this. My boyfriend is having a lot of trouble in life with his parents getting a divorce and he calls me for hours on end sometimes crying. I just showed him this and I'm hoping he likes it. Thank you so much!!

Hellen
July, 26 2013 at 12:58 am

This poem is very inspiring

Denise Maher
October, 18 2012 at 10:23 am

Reading that poem has really lifted my spirits, feeling very low at the moment but that poem's wonderful.

Zara
July, 10 2012 at 10:46 am

thank you so much. so many people just don't understand and frankly don't want to understand. I am so happy to have a place where people accept me for who I am and celebrate that fact.

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

July, 8 2012 at 4:21 pm

You are welcome. And so glad you are finding support here.

nikky44
June, 5 2012 at 11:07 pm

Thank you <3 <3 <3 <3

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