How to deal with/help people with low self esteem and depression?

Hey guys I need some help with this. What can I do to help people who have very low self esteem and are depressed? See my girlfriend has low self esteem and the doctor has said that she is showing signs of early depression. She has alot going on at the moment and she tends to really stress out and worry about things like her schooling and her future and stuff like that, and her mum and step dad are going through a bad breakup, and her step dad has, in her mothers words, emotionally abused them. She always says she's fat and ugly, and when I try to tell her otherwise she says that I'm lying and I'm only saying it to make her feel better.I don't know what to do I'm running out of ideas.I also have another friend who has really really bad depression and has tried to commit suicide once, and last night we were talkin and then just out of the blue she said she was going to try again. It scared me because of how casual she was actin about it, like it was no big deal. She just said out of the blue that she was going to try and kill herself again and if she succeeds for me to tell her ex that cheated on her that it's all his fault but she said she probably wouldn't end up dying because nothing ever turns out how she wants (In this case she wants death). All this has really got me worried, not only do I have the fact that my friend could commit suicide at any time, I'm also worried that my girlfriend might get worse and and up like her aswell........ Please help me guys, what can I do to help these people, even if just a tiny bit? How to deal with/help people with low self esteem and depression?
My ex had depression, was anorexic and the whole jazz. Took me nine months to figure out there's no helping her. She was just tearing people around her down due to her own problems. Stay away I say.How to deal with/help people with low self esteem and depression?
Be there for her/them, let them know that you want to help and what not. Make them feel that they are wanted in the world because there is no worse feeling than believing the world would be a better place without you. Be sure to talk to them too and if the stuff is extremely serious, I reckon try to get them to see a psychiatrist and what not.
Obviously, the answer is to observe said person, then pose as an emo and hang around them. Remember to act all depressed and listen to Linkin Park, just like the real depressed person does!  It's cool and gets you lots of attention.
t seems like the parents are part of the problem so take her to your place to spend the night and take her out for a vmeal, talk to her and tell her how pretty she is, just get her away from her family... that's all i can think of
[This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]
Give them a hug. :)
[QUOTE=''DivergeUnify'']tell her to listen to linkin park![/QUOTE]

Don't think that'll help much.

For your GF just keep trying to cheer her up, it'll work eventually.

For your suicidal friend, tell her parents, call the police, write a letter to Santa Clause, just make sure that other people(Preferably adults) know what she might do.
Not much you can do but just be a friend and treat them normally.
Well if she's your girlfriend, you should know her a lot better than we do. You know what makes her happy. But if I was in your shoes i'd take her to the arcade and play some Tekken!
There is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to this very problem. It's called To Write Love On Her Arms and it donates money to suicide hotlines, among other things. If your friend and your girlfriend are having problems with depression, try to get them into therapy. If you want to know more about To Write Love On Her Arms, here is the site: http://www.twloha.com/ . I hope this information helps.
Tel it how it is:

''Shut up, stop moaning, people have it worse off than you you whiny little git! There's no such thing as depression its just you being selfish and self-defeating!''
[QUOTE=''clembo1990'']Tel it how it is: ''Shut up, stop moaning, people have it worse off than you you whiny little git! There's no such thing as depression its just you being selfish and self-defeating!''[/QUOTE] How can you be so insensitive? 
Really the best you can do is to become their emotional outlet. Just have them talk to you about all of their problems and that will help them cope with the problems a little better. Then do some fun things with them. Help them get rid of some of their stress. Go on a walk together. Go to a pool and play some volleyball. Play video games together. Stuff like that. Anything that will get them to think and/or to increase their heart rate. Exercise can do a lot to reduce depression.
[QUOTE=''JackEpstein''][QUOTE=''clembo1990'']Tel it how it is: ''Shut up, stop moaning, people have it worse off than you you whiny little git! There's no such thing as depression its just you being selfish and self-defeating!''[/QUOTE] How can you be so insensitive?  [/QUOTE]

If depression was a disease I'd care, but it's not. It's a made up word. Made up by psychologists to label people who:

a) think like this: ''the world is all bad, i'm bad, my life is bad and its never going to get better''

b) people who go all or nothing (i.e. either life is perfect or completely terrible

c) people who view the world in the wrong way

''Its not a disease, its all in your head.'' - That is the one and only good thing Tom Cruise has said. You can't treat it with drugs cus there's nothing physically wrong.

People just need to get a grip and stop listening to these labels society gives them.
[QUOTE=''clembo1990''][QUOTE=''JackEpstein''][QUOTE=''clembo1990'']Tel it how it is: ''Shut up, stop moaning, people have it worse off than you you whiny little git! There's no such thing as depression its just you being selfish and self-defeating!''[/QUOTE] How can you be so insensitive?  [/QUOTE]

If depression was a disease I'd care, but it's not. It's a made up word. Made up by psychologists to label people who:

a) think like this: ''the world is all bad, i'm bad, my life is bad and its never going to get better''

b) people who go all or nothing (i.e. either life is perfect or completely terrible

c) people who view the world in the wrong way

''Its not a disease, its all in your head.'' - That is the one and only good thing Tom Cruise has said. You can't treat it with drugs cus there's nothing physically wrong.

People just need to get a grip and stop listening to these labels society gives them.[/QUOTE]



Depression certainly is real and it is definitely something to do with the physical. Drugs can and do treat it. :?
If a person tells you they are going to try to kill themselves then they aren't serious about it. The only reason a person tells other people is because they want something, even if they dont' know what it is. If a person really wants to die, if they really don't care then they'll just go and do it, there is no stopping someone when they get to that phase.That said the best you can do is be there for them. Don't freak out if they say something that makes you angry or worries you. Listen to what they have to say, ask them questions and try to let them know that you care enough to be there right now. If one person cares enough to be there listening to them at that moment then they can't be worthless. Try to get them to think or talk about what they want/need. Once they start you can talk to them about what they would need to do to get that. If you don't know what to ask or how to help then the best thing you could do is try to get them to seek some kind of help from somebody that knows what to ask. If your in high school then you have the benefit of a free councillor (something a lot of adults wish they could have). If your friends won't go to them then you can ask the exact same questions you started this topic with to  your school guidance councillor.One last thing, don't let your friends suck you dry. If you've tried everything and they just aren't listening then do the right thing and take care of yourself. People with issues sometimes just need time for things to begin to sort themselves out. If your friend thinks she's fat and ugly even after you say so then there is nothing you can do about that. Don't even talk to her about it, if she keeps bringing it up she's being childish and fishing for you to tell her the opposite. It's a hard line to see but be a friend, don't be a tool. You deserve better then that and if they don't see that then it's really time to back off and leave them be for a while.
[QUOTE=''DeeJayInphinity''][QUOTE=''clembo1990''][QUOTE=''JackEpstein'']  How can you be so insensitive?  [/QUOTE] If depression was a disease I'd care, but it's not. It's a made up word. Made up by psychologists to label people who: a) think like this: ''the world is all bad, i'm bad, my life is bad and its never going to get better'' b) people who go all or nothing (i.e. either life is perfect or completely terrible c) people who view the world in the wrong way ''Its not a disease, its all in your head.'' - That is the one and only good thing Tom Cruise has said. You can't treat it with drugs cus there's nothing physically wrong. People just need to get a grip and stop listening to these labels society gives them.[/QUOTE] Depression certainly is real and it is definitely something to do with the physical. Drugs can and do treat it. :?[/QUOTE] Depression certainly is real for some people. Medication is not the solution more often then not, people need friends and people that care, not drugs. A lot of the time you could get the same results from placebo pills.