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Summing up, young women get specific with this list of “dos” and “don’ts” - their reminders of how you can put into practice the words “Hear me, understand me, support me.”

Do

• Build a relationship with us first before you start talking about depression.
• Ask us if we have been affected by any of these:
  • discomfort with our body
  • issues relating to food
  • parental pressure
  • family problems
  • racial and cultural experiences
  • peer pressure
  • sexual relationships
  • sexuality issues
  • economic issues
  • school experiences
  • low levels of physical activity
  • stress
  • visible and/or invisible disabilities
  • sibling rivalry
  • loss of someone important to us
  • strained friendships
  • use of alcohol or other substances
  • abusive relationships
  • politics or things that we see or hear about on the news
  • anything else unique to us and our situations.
• Educate us about depression. Ask the young woman if she wants information on depression. If so, she can take away resources to look at and then give you answers about what you need to know, and then talk about it.
• Give us information on other things besides medication that can help with depression.
• Empower us.
• Always check things out with us to make sure you understand what we mean!

Don’t

• Don't tell us you know what we're going through, because unless you've been there, you don't really know what we're going through.
• Don't do for us, but guide us.
• When asking questions about issues on your checklist, don’t forget to look up from your paper. You need to get to know us, so there needs to be time to talk about the things on the list.
• Don't just hand us a number to call. We need information about a referral and what will happen when we call.
• Don't ask yes/no questions. You need to hear about my world.
• Don't assume that I want my family involved.
• Don't talk to me like I’m a child.
• Don't judge me by the way I dress.
• Don't reject me because I am expressing anger - it has meaning, it needs to be understood.