how do you get help for someone with depression who is ignoring help by their therapist? ?

Hi Kate - Thanks for the additional information. Does your mother have a regular doctor that she sees and trusts? Would it be possible to enlist her doctor's help in getting her to see the need for treatment? She should be monitored on a regular basis for her diabetes, and it might be easier to get her to go in for a wellness checkup than it has been to get her to follow the social worker's advice. Would it be possible for a family member to help set up the appointment and inform her doctor of the additional health concerns and to also go with her to the appointment?

Since she has a psychiatrist you could also try working with him/her, and getting the office to schedule a follow up appointment to see how she's progressed since her last visit and to also order tests to check her medication levels, if needed.

Another concern that comes to mind in reading your comments is whether she is having difficulty dealing with your dad's dementia, and whether there are some steps that cold be taken to help her with both the mental and physical toil she is taking on due to his illness. Perhaps having others help her with the situation would be helpful to her in seeing that she's not alone in dealing with this.

If she is uncomfortable discussing her feelings with the immediate family, do you know if she has any close friends she trusts who could help her or do you think you could get her involved with a support group?

Her situation is not an easy one, and it's good that you want to help. Please let me know what you think of these suggestions and if we can help further.

Take care,
Pat

Can you tell us more about this "someone" in your life? Is this person a relative...mother, father, sister, brother, son, daughter? Is this person a friend, co-worker or neighbor? How old is this person, and have they been diagnosed with depression? What are your concerns, in other words...what behaviors are they displaying that are causing you concern? Have they talked with you about their feelings, are they suicidal? Are they using any medication, or have any other medical conditions?

Sorry for the litany of questions, but your answers will help us in providing the best practical advice, solutions and resources.