[Coda]

In general, any specific feelings WILL go away after a while.

That doesn't make them less significant.

The most important thing to do for a friend with depression is to listen. The only thing worse than being depressed is being depressed and alone. Being with someone who really cares helps take the edge off. The depression doesn't go away, but it helps deal with the effects.

Depression ISN'T about resolving any specific cause of being upset. It seems like it on the surface, but it's really the other way around -- the brain doesn't like effects without causes and will search for something to associate. When a depression episode happens, the sufferer usually focuses on a specific problem or set of problems; those problems aren't the CAUSE of the depression. So while pursuing a solution to the problems can help, it helps because it gives a feeling of control, not because of the actual effect of solving anything.

Long story short: Don't try to fix their problems, but be supportive.