>>One of the best strategies for people suffering depression is to get them to help someone else, who is worse off. That takes the focus off the depressed person, and puts their focus on something positive. You might try visiting a nursing home where some little old lady sits alone in her room all day, just waiting on the box. What a miserable existence, to live only to die.
>
>Yeah, that would sure cheer me up. <bg>

John is right.
I have a friend who suffered from deep depression about ten years ago. Then he started to volunteer at Red Cross in S, Cal. Now is like a big time organizer for them. Last time I saw him he was happy as a lark and loved his life.

He went from "whoa as me..." and "me first" to "what can I do to help others".