Depression Texts (A comprehensive overview)

This blog serves as a comprehensive guide for everything from recognizing depression in social media texts to using texting to ease stress and depression. It also mentions some of the famous organizations that are using texted based strategies to help communities.

List of texts to send a depressed friend

Below are a list of texts you can send to a friend suffering from depression to brighten their day:

• You can talk to me anytime
• I’m always here
• Please don’t think you are alone in all this mess. 
• Please talk to me if you want to
• Have you eaten yet ?
• I really love you and care for you
• I want you to know that I’m always here
• You are really brave and I’m rooting for you
• You make me very proud and I’m grateful I have you as my friend
• Can I call you ?
• How can I help ? 
• What would make you feel better ?
• I saw this and it reminded me of you

List of texts to tell a friend you are depressed

It can be hard to ask for help when you are depressed. Some ways in which you can ask for help or let your people know that you are feeling depressed are:

• Can we talk ?
• I haven’t been feeling good lately, can I talk about it ?
• I’m going through a little rough patch, thank you for understanding 
• Can you hear me out for a bit ?
• What would you do in my place ?
• I’ll tell you when I’m feeling better
• Thanks for reaching out

List of depression text lines where you can seek help

• The Trevor Project is an organization which provides a 24-hour phone hotline, as well as 24-hour webchat and text alternatives, for queer youth.
• The TrevorLifeline is 1-866-488-7386.
• TrevorChat can be found at https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help-now/
• TrevorText can be contacted by texting START to 678-678
• National Suicide Prevention Helpline UK – 0800 689 5652.
• Samaritans is a registered organization which aims focuses on charity and also provides emotional support to people who are at a risk of suicide. It is 24/7 and toll free, making it accessible easily. Samaritans Helpline can be reached at 116 123.
• Shout (https://www.giveusashout.org/) – Text SHOUT to 85258
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
• National Hopeline Network: 1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433)
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
• National Youth Crisis Hotline: 1-800-448-4663

How to deal with a friend suffering from depression

The biggest way to help a friend dealing with depression is to make them firmly understand that you or any other kind of support is always there. People suffering from depression tend to feel that they are lonely and have no one. Make sure they know that they aren’t alone and prove yourself to be a dependable source of comfort.

Be understanding. Put yourself into their shoes and try to think from their perspective. Doing this helps you become more considerate of their feelings and also helps you to create a safe space for your friend. 

A person knows themself best. Ask your friend how you can help them feel better. This allows them to seek help in their own space and gives them the freedom to decide their boundaries. Also constantly remind them of their worth. Tell them that they are special, enumerate their happiest memories, and give credit to their hard work and progress. 

Acknowledge their feelings. Most people tend to be dismissive and this just makes the depressed person feel guilty about their feelings causing them to repress it, therefore doing more damage than good. Acknowledge their difficulties, don’t dismiss or make it look like a small issue.

Lastly, be patient. A depressed person may be very closed off and hesitant to start sharing their feelings. They may also say something rude or unpleasant or snap at you. You must understand that it is difficult for them to maintain a positive thought process. Them being rude or snapping at you doesn’t mean that they hate you but rather they are frustrated with their own problems and need help to clear it out. 

How to tell your friends you are depressed

Again, it may always feel hard reaching out to ask for help. But it is good to let your friends know that you are feeling down. It helps you to get stuff off from your mind which you may have not felt comfortable sharing with your family. 

First, think about who you want to tell it to. Keep your close, trustable friends in that list, people who you know will not judge you and with whom you can be yourself. 

Understand that your friends are your chosen family. Let them be your safe space and know that they won’t judge you. You can choose to share what you want and keep back what you want. When it’s you seeking out help, you can also create your own boundaries to feel safe and operate from within its limit. 

Allowing others to understand your health makes them more considerate about you. Tell them how they can make you feel better. 

Talking to your closest people about your diagnosis and struggle can be very beneficial, especially if they provide support and encouragement. According to the National Alliance on Mental Health, just talking to someone you like will lower your stress levels and make you feel better.

In some cases, you may  want to share your emergency response plan with a few trusted friends and family friends. That way, they know how to react if your depression reaches a critical level, or if you start talking about suicide. The key is to avoid dealing with depression yourself. 

Depression- Text-based detection

Depression is a valid physiological and biological explanation for feelings of despair and helplessness that persist over time.  It is a common mental condition that often goes undetected. 

As people are becoming more conscious of the importance of mental health, the detection of mental disease is becoming a major problem. Each mental disorder is complicated on its own, and different from the other, making it harder for the psychiatrists to diagnose and treat these problems before it’s too late. However, with the integration of social media in our everyday lives, it has become easier to collect any additional information about a patient’s mental illness.

A research paper authored and co-authored by Dr. Rida Zainab and Dr. Chandramouli respectively, comprehended social media as a tool for deduction and treatment of depression. 

Social media platforms are common areas where people commute their thoughts and feelings. Social media information datasets are used to predict the presence of depression, using indicative features and machine learning techniques to help in detection of depression. 

According to a number of researches, it is found that linguistic biomarkers such as frequency of personal pronouns and hedonic tones are indicators of depression. The ratio of pronouns to nouns was also predicted to be an indicator for depression and self-destructive behavior.

How can texts help relieve depression?

According to a survey study in Alberta, it was found that supportive texts are a practical and effective way of delivering supplementary therapeutic services to people with mental issues in wider populations. Text messages are feasible for they are cheap and can be sent simultaneously to larger populations, they can help narrow the treatment gap for the people with mental health issues. A simple genuine text every now and then goes a long way.

How to deal with depressed texts

Depression can be very hard to deal with especially when you have no idea what’s going on. In the study mentioned above, there were found more percentages of predicted depression in non-depressive posts than the depression posts. This indicates that there are masses that are unaware and undiagnosed despite having depression.

Depression and anxiety are so prevalent that you’re bound to know someone who is suffering from them at some point. It could be a member of your family, a teammate, or a member of the community. Help and support are more likely to help people with depression and anxiety get through their problems than they are on their own. Although there are ways you can help someone that you think is suffering from depression.

You are not alone

Depressed people usually tend to withdraw or detach from their surroundings, friends and family. This does not mean that they are self-centered or want you to back off. They are just not in their right headspace to interact; in fact it occurs on a molecular, neurological level.

A person struggling with depression is not just fighting an illness, but is also fighting himself. As similar to how different TV show characters are portrayed to be on a spell, or a force that seizes them to be their true self. A person under the influence of depression is not his true self; his thoughts, feelings and desires are altered and replaced by apathy, despair and hopelessness. A person without hope cannot find the desire to fight against this feeling and most likely needs external help and support to help them get through this.

 Since they detach themselves and prefer to be alone, research indicates that loneliness worsens their state. Having someone text them frequently, or be there for them is a constant reminder for them that they are not alone and someone is worried about their wellbeing. They might not respond but that’s okay. Let them know that you have their back and you are there for them, if and whenever they would like to talk about it.

Although as a friend, you may spiral into wondering what to say and what not to, it does not have to be specific, poetic or well said. Just a ‘hey I’m worried about you” or “hey what’re you up to” can be a good conversation starter. 

You matter

Depressed people frequently experience feelings of worthlessness and insignificance. They think it easier to detach and isolate with their thoughts, into an endless cycle of gloom. 

As a friend or loved one, be consistent and available to them. Let them know how important they are. Simply texting them “hey you’re amazing” or being available and responsive for them at the other end of the phone sometimes is enough to let them know you care and that they matter to someone. 

A simple text like “what can I do to help today” might also make their day better. Demonstrating that you devote more than your time and words can help them realize their value in someone’s life.

You are accepted

As a depressed being, people always tell you to talk to someone, but how do you put words on something that is so difficult to comprehend even for yourself?

Sometimes, even something as normal as waking up late might set you off, and it’s difficult to explain how something so ordinary can have such an impact. Similarly, it is difficult for people to comprehend something they cannot relate to or see. In such situations, it is critical to let your friend know that there is someone who supports them no matter what they are going through, even if they don’t know or can’t connect to whatever they are going through.

Your feelings are valid

The fact is, there is no perfect way of knowing what would help and what won’t. Although words cannot heal depression, they can certainly assist to limit and reduce it. 

The beginning of any healing process requires acceptance of what it is. Similarly with depression it is counterproductive to be pretending to be okay, denial only delays the inevitable. Acknowledging one’s feelings can help them begin their journey to the other end. Simple text like “I’m sorry you feel this way” or “that sounds hard, how you are coping” can be enough to make them understand that their feelings are ‘not just in their head’. And that they are valid and not being judged.

Here are lists of texts that can help relieve depression. 

• You matter
• Your feelings are valid
• Do you want company?
• I care, even if I don’t understand
• How can I help?
• Let’s do something together
• Can I call?
• Let’s meet up

Popular organizations across the world

There are numerous support groups available for people who are looking to vent their frustrations without having to face an uncomfortable interaction. These online support groups often share coping strategies, assurance that someone else also knows what you have been going through, and they can give you confidence to manage and handle your daily depression challenges. They also suggest good medications for you to follow, dietary supplements and above all, psychotherapy which provide additional support.

Some of these organizations provide on-text support. These are depression hotlines or text-lines that simply provide a level of anonymity that an in-person interaction or even a phone conversation does not.

1. Need2text

Need2text is a free online support hotline that teens can access whenever they come across any situation regarding a crisis. It is a free service that does not require insurance; it completely respects anonymity and does not contact authorities apart from when it is absolutely necessary. Personal trainers are appointed to help texters deal with different situations.

2. Crisis text line

Crisis text line is a free service available to anyone from anywhere in the United States; text HOME to 741741 to find a trained volunteer crisis counselor at your service. The goal of this service is to calm you down from a hot to a cool state. Keep in mind that the volunteer is not professional, but a trained empathizer who will commute with you to a calm, safe place.

3. Youth line

Youth line is a 24/7 helpline service that provides helping, mentoring, and grooming to youth throughout New Zealand. It is a registered charity that is funded and supported by many. Youth line has extended its helpline services nationwide and locally offers different training programs for the communities. 

4. 50808

50808 is a free, 24/7 funded helpline that provides support whether it is a person to vent to, or a mental health professional to help you cope or guide you through a crisis of any magnitude. 

Depression chat rooms

Depression chat is an excellent depression support and therapy method that has aided a large number of people. It was initially created for depressed people who are looking for a way out. You may learn more about what depression is and what the symptoms of depression are, by reading more about the topic. You can also find information on depression treatment, depression types, and how to deal with depression. If you’re feeling lonely, you can get depression help from other users in the chat room by talking and conversing with them. Helping someone with depression is always a noble cause if you know how to help depression.

Conclusion

This blog contains informative insights on how texts can be a way of bringing joy and how they can aid to the feelings and symptoms that come with depression. Here different organizations are also mentioned, that provide online depression support through texts. In short, depression texts is a cathartic and therapeutic practice that has been used since the invention of mobile phones, and it has a proven track record of assisting individuals in coping with difficult situations.

FAQs: depressed texts

How does any text line or help line work?

Every helpline has its own protocol; however some standard procedures include the first step where you have to reach out, texting a certain keyword to a helpline registered number. Followed by a series of automated messages, they ask you questions about yourself and your circumstances in order to link you with someone who is knowledgeable and trained in that field.

Who are crisis counselors?

Crisis counselors are either trained volunteers or professional workers who provide the service, their job is mainly empathetic listening to give counter strategies for their crisis situation, or medical advice if needed.

What happens to confidentiality when a texter is at imminent risk of suicide?

All of these organizations are credible because they maintain confidentiality, and do not contact authorities unless it is absolutely necessary to be reported for either your safety or someone else’s.

References

Agyapong, V. I. O., Mrklas, K., Juhás, M., Omeje, J., Ohinmaa, A., Dursun, S. M., & Greenshaw, A. J. (2016). Cross-sectional survey evaluating Text4Mood: mobile health program to reduce psychological treatment gap in mental healthcare in Alberta through daily supportive text messages. BMC Psychiatry 2016 16:1, 16(1), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1186/S12888-016-1104-2

Havigerová, J. M., Haviger, J., Kučera, D., & Hoffmannová, P. (2019). Text-Based Detection of the Risk of Depression. Frontiers in Psychology, 10(MAR). https://doi.org/10.3389/FPSYG.2019.00513

Zainab, R., Chandramouli, R., & Man, H. (n.d.). DEPRESSION DETECTION AND EXPLANATION WITH MACHINE LEARNING.