Helping someone with depression
It’s not always easy to know how to help someone who is experiencing depression. It can be hard to know what to say or do. We all respond to situations and talk about things differently.
The following approaches are designed with this in mind. They offer you a number of ways to help a friend or family member.
R U OK?
Staying connected and having meaningful conversations is something we can all do. You don’t need to be an expert - just a good friend and a great listener. So, if you notice someone who might be struggling - start a conversation.
Black Dog Institute
The Black Dog Institute is a not-for-profit, educational, research, clinical and community-oriented facility offering specialist expertise in depression and Bipolar Disorder.
Beyondblue
Beyondblue is a national, independent, not-for-profit organisation working to address issues associated with depression, anxiety and related substance misuse disorders in Australia.
Minds Count Foundation
The Minds Count Foundation (formerly the Tristan Jepson Memorial Foundation) is an independent, charitable organisation. Its objective is to decrease work-related psychological ill-health in the legal community and to promote workplace psychological health and safety.
Vicarious trauma in the legal profession
The nature of barristers’ work necessitates deep involvement in cases that may disclose violence, injury, destitution, betrayal, dishonesty, greed, danger and damage. Not only do barristers have to listen to clients describe what, for many of them, has been a devastating life experience, but also, barristers must ask those same clients to re-live it over and again during the trial process by recounting the details to doctors, experts and in court.