Supporting the patient

If he's diagnosed with depression, the doctor may prescribe antidepressant medications and/or psychotherapy. She may also recommend lifestyle changes. Even if a primary care doctor diagnosed his depression, a patient may still benefit from seeing a mental health professional. Not all primary care physicians are comfortable treating depression.

He may be anxious about taking antidepressants, either because of the stigma he associates with those medications or because he's afraid of potential side effects. Assure him that the doctor can work with him to find the medication that's most effective with the least severe side effects.

Other ways you can help

Simply supporting someone as he struggles with depression can help him a great deal. Here are some other things you can do:

• Help him stay as physically active as possible. Talk to the doctor and rehabilitation team about what exercises are appropriate. Find activities you can do together, such as a morning walk around the neighborhood. Exposure to sunlight can help break the cycle of sleeping during the day that many depressed people fall into.
• Structure the day around activities that give him pleasure and a sense of purpose. For example, meet friends for lunch or enjoy a leisurely walk through the mall.
• Try to stay positive and upbeat, but don't foster unrealistic expectations. Instead of saying, "You'll be running a 10K next month," you might say, "The more we walk together, the easier it'll be."
• Join a support group -- for either or both of you. Talking to other people who're struggling with similar issues can be enormously comforting and helpful. It's also a great way to connect with other heart attack survivors and caregivers.