How would you convince a friend that he/she needs to be medicated for something like depression?
How do you tell them that their misplaced aggression, bouts of fatigue/malaise and/or periods of demotivation can be helped, if not cured, by simple treatments available in the market today?
Different people respond to different types of encouragements. Obviously, speaking to them about the symptoms and having some authoritative evidence to back it up rather than guessing the ailment is one way. Inerventions also help but commitment from concerend party to be completely honest is a major driver.
You can also try leaving a bottle of Jack Daniels and some Elmer's glue on the table and see if it takes.
Roman, its Joe Daniels in your case. (remember Scent of a woman?)
I wouldn’t recommend a psychiatrist or medication for depression to someone who is in denial. People and especially desies take it personally.
First of all, you can't help a person who doesn't want to be helped. Maybe first try to make that person realise he/she needs help. Then try to convince him/her to go talk to someone professional maybe.
There is always a huge issue with this denial business. Why is this so prevalent with desis?
I was hoping that getting the person to take the medicine and experience the difference might convince them that there is a problem.
If we have to work on getting the person to admit they have such a problem, we'll never get them to take the medication.
BoSS, what do you recommend then?
Denial is not only the virtue of Desis, Muzna Aunty. 
Perhaps the issue lies more in the perception of depression as a an attribue of failure within the desi community rather than a legitimate ailment.
Yes Matsui Unkil, you are right. Perhaps I should have suggested that denial is more prevalent amongst desis.....and perhaps more prevalent in the male gender. I stand corrected.
And yes, I agree that it represents failure and that is probably why they will not accept it.
Unfortunately, because of this "ego" issue, they ruin the lives of those around them.
Bhaee, the very first step must be to convice someone to talk to a professional who can determine if the individual in fact sufferes from clinical depression. That should only be the piece of advice one should give. Individual assumptions that an individual is in fact suffering from depression is not a good idea, even so and more, suggesting to take some medicine.
Good point Roman. But how do you get someone that doesn't want to go, into a shrink's office?
Not specifically any advice as to “how” to convince the friend in your case, but it will help you to know that your friend is not alone in feeling that s/he has no problem, so no shrink is necessary.
And yes, this is not something which is limited to desis. This is prevalent in all cultures including caucasians.
The linked article explains some of the issues surrounding this issue.
The recommended treatment guidelines for major depression also call for at least eight psychotherapy or counseling sessions, each lasting a minimum of 20 minutes. Kessler’s study didn’t specifically look at psychotherapy treatments patterns. But another expert not involved in the study says that the ongoing stigma that’s associated with major depression may prevent many patients from getting the right treatment combination of both medication and counseling.
“In our (western) culture, having major depression translates to a perceived weakness, and what that amounts to is a lot of people who are depressed privately and suffer in silence,” says Stephen Schlesinger, PhD, of Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine and a spokesman for the American Psychological Association.
Well, there is a limit to how much you can intervene. If you can't convince someone the leave them be.
It also depends on how you convince someone. Normally, people won't just admit to it if you push them to seek professional help. Depression is very much of a physical problem (like having flu) as it is a psychiatric issue. As a matter of fact, clinical depression and any subsequent medication addresses first and foremost addresses the chemical imbalance impairment before it addresses the psychiatric procurement (counselling etc). What you need to do is to present to the person the whole scenario and emphasis on the part about physical ailment rather than psychiatric aspect.
True that normally chemical imbalance is triggered by psychological factors, unless and until someone is suffering from actual chemical imbalance, the psychological factors can be dealt with one's own defensive mechanism, support from friends and family, and change in lifestyles etc, which is usually people are capable of improvising on their own instead of seeking professional help.
Any person who should be advised, should be advised to see a psychiatrist first, not a psyhologist.
I'm not sure how I would handle a situation like that, I think a lot of it would depend on how close the friendship is. Looking at it from the other side, I know I wouldn't take it too well if a friend suggested I needed treatment for depression.
If its mild pression then maybe you could talk them into taking a supplement like St Johns Wort (which is available over the counter) under the pretence that it will help them sleep better - which it does - so you wouldn't technically be lying to them. A bit sneaky I know but its a suggestion.
BoSS, what do you recommend then?
I’d see if I can offer my time to help the person grow out of depression and then during the course I might ask him/her to see a professional for medication.
Its all in your approach towards the patient. You are not gonna help the situation by making a cell phone call on your way back from work asking him/her to see a shrink.
If I can’t help or devote time … I’d rather keep out
ciao
BoSS-a-very-bad-friend
Muzna, don't listen to BoSS. Just pass on her number to me. Let me talk to her. I'd convince her.
i know of a lil girl who was havnig a lot of problems... and what her parents did was go and see a shrink without the daughter... just to get an idea of what might be causing it...
.. sometimes medication isnt the best thing to take when ur in depression.. u can become very reliant on it.. and thats not a good thing..
Muzna medication isn't always the answer,, try talking and spending time with your friend..
dont be pushy though.., it's best to talk about religion, coz 'in the remembrance of God do hearts find ease'(frm the quran)... or try telling her in the most nicest manner to visit a counsellor.
All the best.. :)