wits end

[windycity8]

when there is no meaning in life, you have no get up and go and you lost everything you have, who do you turn to for help? my brother is at his wit's end with his daughter, she wont go to the docs as she fed up of counsellors, antidepressants and doesnt want anything on her medical notes. this is so worrying, i cant see what he can do. my niece is blaming her husband who lost his job recently and is saying its up to him to put things back to how they were. its a long story, very serious stuff, i feel helpless.

[China Doll]

You can't do anything and neither can your brother. It is up to your neice to deal with her depression (very difficult when your get up and go has got up and gone but nonetheless still true). If she's had enough of counsellors and anti-depressants then she might want to look at a change in lifestyle, (diet and exercise can be of some benefit) but then that's also up to her to actually instigate and do. As far as I can tell, if she's unwilling to help herself at all then it would be up to the husband how long he can tolerate this attitude for and whether he's prepared to stick it out and hope the situation sorts itself out in someway. While this may seem harsh, depression is not something that other people can do anything to 'help' exactly, you just be supportive and sometimes you have to know when to cut your losses too.

[S_C]

depression is a horrible business and can have worsening effects.
however blaming someone for loosing a job isnt exactly the answer , sometimes it takes someone to say shut up and get on with it " in other words do it yourself " for them to pull up their own socks. however it would all depend on what actualy did cause the depression to start with .
only having half the story can be misleading .
however as this is personal stuff i appreciate why not to many facts are here.
if they wont take medial advice then that leaves you with only the option of saying do it yourself . " cruel to be kind"
may or may not be helpful all depends as to cercumstances .
wish you luck with it though

[Androcles]

Agree with what China Doll said. The only one who can cure your state of mind is yourself - everything else is a support act. Sad but true.

[tamborine]

tell your niece not to blame others for her misery.....at least she has her husband - others dont and have to get on alone.