It is important not to accept your negative thinking. Realize that it is part of the depression, which will disappear as soon as your depression will begin to respond to treatments for depression. Always get help from a professional, as a psychologist can always help in order to let you recover faster.
The most productive way in which you can assist a depressed person, is by helping him or her to get appropriate treatments for depression. You may need to encourage the individual to stay with the treatments for depression until the symptoms begin to abate, which may take even several weeks. Else you may need to encourage in order to seek different treatment in case no improvement occurs. The treatments for depression may require making an appointment and accompanying the depressed person to appointments while visiting the psychologist. It may also include monitoring the depressed person, in terms of taking medication, in case any are prescribed.
Offering emotional support are the other treatments for depression. These involve understanding, patience, besides affection, as well as encouragement. You need to engage the depressed person in conversation besides listening carefully. It is important to point out realities as well as offering hope. In case of any remarks about suicide, it is important to always report them to the psychologist of the depressed person.
You need to invite the depressed person for walks, movies, and any other similar activities. It is important to encourage participation in such activities which once gave pleasure, which can be any hobbies, sports, religious or even cultural activities. But never push the depressed person too much, as too many demands can increase the feelings of failure. Also, never accuse the depressed person of faking illness or “to snap out of it.” Eventually, the treatments for depression will help most depressed people to get better, so keep reassuring the depressed person that he or she will feel better.