In my experience the people that help the most, and understand the most, are people who have been through it themselves. A good friend can help, absolutely. But in case they've been through depression themselves, sooner or later they are likely to get frustrated with you and say "Snap OUT of it! This is why you're miserable! It's no one's fault but your own! Only you can help yourself!"
And I hate that last line. "Only you can help yourself." It's one of those little things that sounds like sage life wisdom, but it's not fully true. Partially true, yes. Fully true? Hell no. But it proliferates everywhere and it has become the accepted "truism" that helps perpetuate the stigma against mental illness. You can't date if you're depressed, because your depression destroys all positive vibes, and makes your partner suffer. Why should you make your partner suffer? Stay single until you are a complete, content person with good qualities that enrich your partner's life! Don't be the downer in your group of friends! No one likes a downer. Your depression destroys everyone around you....friends, partners, co-workers...you're like a nuclear reactor and your depression is radiation leaking out of you. Do you want to be that way? No! So fix yourself, become a person you can be proud of before you engage socially!
I hate reading and hearing stuff like this. I'm not a nuclear reactor. I'm a person and depression is real and it is complicated, and some might disagree on this, but I think modern "lifestyle blogs" have done more harm than good in perpetuating the stigma. In my opinion, anyway. If I get another "Don't be THIS type of person" or "Seven types of toxic friends" or "10 signs that your partner is destroying your positive energy" article in my Google recommendations or homepage.....
But everyone's experience is different. The things that "help" are different for everyone. For myself, I was on medication for awhile, from like 2009-2012, but I didn't see it helping. What helped the most for me was the feeling of doing things, of being included, of being out in the world. But in 2014 I was struck down with illness (on top of being physically disabled) and, long story short, I will likely never be able to work in an office environment ever again. I work from home now, most of my friends are away....so my socialization suffers because I'm isolated, and socialization used to be the thing that helped the most.
Luckily we live in the age of the internet where we can reach out and have friends far and wide. I'm lucky I have friends that understand my situation. But there are always those few that love to link me to Youtube videos of quadriplegics that travel the world, and they go "See! These people don't let anything stop them!" I'm not a quadriplegic but my situation is complicated. World travel isn't possible for me for a number of reasons (money being one of them, physical pain being another). And when I try to explain this, they go "You're just making excuses and this is why you're always depressed. Only you can help yourself." (there's that line again)
They don't understand that those videos do NOT help me, nor do they "inspire" me. You know what does inspire me? When some calls me up and says "Help me with something. I can't find X or Y. I can't figure this out. What would you do? Do you want to hang out?" Feeling like I can contribute just feels great.
Helping myself involves constant reminders of what I have, how it could be worse (one of the few things from counseling that actually helped). Meditation helps a lot too. Doing anything, even if it's just going to the store or out of the house for a few hours. When I do engage socially, I'm constantly reminded of how my social skills have eroded, and I'm tired of being evasive with people about why I'm "a certain age" and don't have a masters degree or haven't done X or Y. But when I start to feel depressive thoughts creep up, I force myself to think "I'm actually out of the house, I'm actually around people and experiencing things, so just relax. Everyone here has their own issues. Everyone."
When I do tell people about my own issues, I'm as honest as possible. "I take it day by day. Some days are bad, some are good. Some are dark, some aren't. But I'm trying. I haven't given up." And that's honest. How the person takes it, I have no control over. I'm sure some will think "Okay, he will definitely destroy my happy vibes. Steer clear." Others will say "Tell me more."
Finding people that understand that depression may be a facet of who you are but doesn't DEFINE you is the key. Society as a whole will always perpetuate the stigma. Individuals have the ability to understand you. Find those individuals however you can.
God I rambled here. Didn't mean to.
Actually my mom I know likes to go to bed to what she calls 'pleasant' shows like Leave it to Beaver or Dennis the Menace. She says that if something scary is on she starts to feel tightness in her chest. She also can't handle anything where someone is wearing masks. Yet somehow she has gotten into both "The Walking Dead" and "American Horror Story." 
