Nearest and dearest depressed?

Your family member or friend has been diagnosed with a mental illness. Luckily, there's a lot you can do to make the situation better for your loved one and for yourself, according to the Cape Support for Mental Health.

Take action:
Empower yourself by finding out as much about the illness and the treatment as possible; find a psychiatrist who specialises in the particular illness and who is recommended by others who are in a similar position; look after yourself and take care not to get swamped by the illness; don’t take personal responsibility for the illness – you haven’t caused the illness and don’t need to feel guilty; join a support group in your area to share your experiences and feelings with people who are in a similar position.

Visit our Depression Centre for more info.