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I'm sorry your friend is feeling that way. You're a good friend for wanting to help. Don't push him to leave the house. It probably feels like too much effort

I'm sorry your friend is feeling that way. You're a good friend for wanting to help. Don't push him to leave the house. It probably feels like too much effort to him just now. Go visit him. Don't force him to engage in conversation (again, too much effort), be willing to just sit together in silence or watching TV. When you're depressed, engaging with other people is exhausting - but that in turn is isolating, which can exacerbate the depression. So find ways to show him you care and are still his friend, without requiring a response or reciprocation. Text him a meme. Keep inviting him to events but be understanding that he probably won't go. Invite him to hang out one-on-one (slightly less exhausting than groups); and if he isn't ready to leave the house, go to him, but as above don't expect him to engage. Just being present can help. And speak with his parents. Maybe together you can get him professional help, because if he's having a major depressive episode as your description hints at, he'll need it.

protonimitate 9y ago
As someone who has been on both sides of the depressed coin, this is what works for me when I'm on a down swing. As a friend, offer up simple options. "Want to watch Planet Earth 2 for a bit?", "Want to take a walk to the store with me?", "have you heard this new album? want to listen to it?" Honestly 30-45 mins of in person time is enough to help squash feelings of loneliness without adding on pressure to entertain or "fit in" if the person isn't feeling it. Be consistent. It's hard to get fed up with someone who is depressed. But you being there is worth a lot even if they don't show it.