Dr. Vishal Anilkumar Gandhi
Psychiatry
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Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
I suspect that my friend might be struggling with major depressive disorder, but I am not sure how to approach the topic or offer my support without making them uncomfortable. What are some sensitive and helpful ways I can initiate a conversation about mental health and encourage them to seek professional assistance if needed?
Hello,
Welcome to icliniq.com
I read your query and understand your concern. When any person has a psychiatric illness then it starts affecting his social and functional life. You can ask him about his social life as if he is going to visit people or avoid social gatherings. ask about his work. You can also ask him about fun in life. As he might not be going to enjoy his hobbies, ask him about his spending time on hobbies that he used to enjoy in the past. Ask him about increased substance abuse like smoking more cigarettes or consuming alcohol. He may have sleep and appetite issues. Ask him about his mood, just sit with your friend. If he has depression, he will start to open up about his problem. A patient with depression needs a person to talk to. If you find that he has depression then you must take him to the nearest psychiatrist. You can assess his severity. The psychiatrist will decide on further treatment and management. I hope I have cleared all your doubts. Please let me know if you want some help.
Thank you.
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Psychiatry
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