I was diagnosed with clinical depression when I was 17. I have been on medications ever since... every time I stop taking them, I develop a constant fever. And that itself sucks the joy out of my life. So before trying to help a depressed person, your need to understand the root cause of the problem. Doctors should be considered as the last resort, because sometimes their help does more harm than good. If you know someone who is struggling, make them meet others in a similar situation, because the feeling of isolation is the biggest enemy for a depressed individual. There are various alternate therapies like hypnotherapy, which are more successful and I can personally vouch for it. It is the only thing that helped me. The best cure for depression is the love and support of family and friends. Their positive reinforcements, will slowly erode the negativity and life will start looking beautiful again.