Depression is a topic that is often overlooked in the Muslim community but it seems to be growing at an alarming rate. Think of five of your closest friends – chances are that one of them OR their immediate family is depressed.  In the United States, depression affects about 1 in 20 individuals over the age of 12 or about one individual in every five families.  Sometimes symptoms are obvious and sometimes they aren’t as clear, but if you know someone who is depressed or you know someone who is struggling with a depressed loved one, you are probably wondering if or how you can help.
The number one thing a person can do to assist someone experiencing depression is to be supportive.  However, many people don’t know how to be or think they know how when they actually don’t; which ends up causing more harm than good.