I'm helping someone with manic depression. what should i do?

Support: When a loved one has an illness, it is best to be a good support system for them . Encourage them to get help. You may also want to educate yourself about bipolar disorder. There are support groups for families of loved ones with mental illness. Nami may be a good resource for you.

They have to want it: Your friend has to want therapy and medication, and all you can really do is encourage him/her to seek both and engage deeply and meaningfully in the therapeutic process. You simply cannot do it for him/her, much as you'd like to. You can either be his/her friend or therapist. You cannot be both, and even though you want to see him/her get better, trying to be both simply will not work.