Helping A Depressed Friend

Someone asked how she could best help her depressed friend. Here is my response:
That is so sweet of you for wanting to help your friend. Most people 'shy away' from individuals who are in a funk for fear of saying the wrong thing. When in a depression, if your friend s willing to share with you, that means she trusts you and, well. that says a lot about you. Just listen without feeling the need to 'fix' him/her. Listening with concern makes all the difference. Knowing someone cares could be the motivation needed for the person to press on. I know you long to take the pain away and you hate seeing your friend experience depression, but just by listening, you are likely helping the depression subside more quickly. That is huge to someone who is depressed.