[sswam]

We can try to be decent to one another most of the time, but personal mental health is one's own responsibly, and secondarily our family and friends might assist us (if they are not part of the problem). Individually we can accept only a very slight responsibly for the mental health of our friends and associates. It is hard enough to persuade a close family member to go on a diet, for example; how much more difficult to assist an acquaintance with severe depression or instability. It might be good to do more pair programming and to set up mentor or peer relationships within a workplace or project, especially considering those people who appear to be loners or lacking friends.

Personally I think that severe mental illness can best be helped with dedicated one-on-one life coaching, which is why I offer that as a free service (but no one took me up on it yet). Psychology and therapy can be good, but most people cannot afford to pay for enough of it that it could help them. Meeting the therapist once a week is not likely to save someone from despair.