Comedian Bill Bernat has been fighting depression for some time now, and he has ideas on connecting with others suffering depression. He suggests reaching out to them and making them feel they are important contributors to society as they are, despite their depression.
In this video, he outlines some do’s and don’t’s when initiating contact with a depressed individual. The list of “do’s” include offering help with boundaries set, getting the individual involved in activities that have nothing to do with their depression, keeping a normal and upbeat attitude when talking to depressed individuals, and giving the individual a sense of control. Bill suggests that when reaching across the “chasm” as he refers to it, you don’t need to act depressed as well, or avoid discussing the depression altogether. In his words, depressed people KNOW they are depressed, so the subject is not taboo.
Bill references the fact that people can be both sad and “ok” at the same time, a concept that most of us do not understand. He emphasizes that making a connection is a huge step; allowing an individual to share his thoughts and experiences goes a long way towards making this connection. Bill emphasizes that actual words themselves are not important when dealing with an individual suffering from depression; the very act of attempting to connect is the most important thing of all.
Key Points:
- 1Connecting with depressed friends has never been more important than now.
- 2Social ties could be the best asset that people truly need.
- 3Be ready to contribute to the process and increase your understanding of depression.
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