How to Help a Depressed Friend: A Poem of Support to Share
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 17 from https://www.healthyplace.com/blogs/copingwithdepression/2012/06/depression-poem-for-a-friend
Author: Amie Merz, LPC, NCC
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!
Wow. This is the best poem to share WD ma depressed frd. Hope he finds t helpful as i av.
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.
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
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.
I found the poem very touching and helpful...send it to my son who is in college and dealing with some depression.
my friend wrote me and told me he is depressed.i wrote him this poem..nice poem.
Hi Amie,
Thank you for sharing this poem! It's beautiful. My boyfriend lives with clinical depression and this is perfect.
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!!
Reading that poem has really lifted my spirits, feeling very low at the moment but that poem's wonderful.
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.
You are welcome. And so glad you are finding support here.