14 Things to Never Say to Someone with Depression

Don’t tell them to shake it off

Why it’s harmful: When you tell someone to just shake off their depression, you trivialize their condition and deny their pain, according to Debbie Plotnick, vice president for mental health and systems advocacy at Mental Health America. For people with depression, “cheering up” is not a simple task, and it’s important to recognize that they probably wish they could, too. These are the hidden signs that you could be depressed.

What to say instead: “I’m sorry you’re not feeling well. Is there anything I can do to help?”