Does distraught = depressed?
If so, your activities will likely only increase the depression because despite it being a temporary boost to their emotional state, they will crash harder when they are alone and realize that they were unable to achieve that without someone else, leading them to feel helpless and further spiraling.
You need to figure out what the root cause of the depression is, because without that, you won't make any significant progress. Dietary changes can be very effective in long term emotional state, but only if you have been able to draw the root issue out so that it can be addressed. It may require CBT in order to change their thought patterns, and that takes time and patience, and a good support network to remind the person of their blessings instead of their flaws.
Best of luck.
[–] 13300190? 0 points 2 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago
If he is so smart, go at him straight. Tell him you are worried he is depressed and basically do a 1 on 1 intervention, as long as you are willing to work with him to move past his issues. Once you figure out the root issue, coddling him won't help, you will have to give him the old "buck up" speech and let him know that you care but the only way things will improve is if HE makes the necessary changes and commits to making them long term. Let him know that he can come to you if he is struggling, but basically let him know that if he fails, he needs to get up and keep going, that that is the only way to move forward.
Not horridly, but poorly. I'd thought it was a friend. It had lost its room, was suicidal and living in its car. BTW, It was one of the dumbest bipedal apes I have interacted with. I invited it to sleep at my place. On the second day, I found 2 cardboard boxes in my recycling pile, which it had used. Intellectually, I was a bit puzzled as I had a fully functional toilet; emotionally, I concluded the world would've been better if it had pursued its long walk /short pier idea.
[–] 13299836? 0 points 3 points 3 points (+3|-0) ago
Distractions are good. Spend time with them. Low key at the end of the day say you had a good time, they were good company, etc. Force them to take their mind off things without addressing whatever is bringing them down. Focusing on it makes it grow. If they wanted to talk, they would.
[–] 13299929? ago
Feed first then tell them you are there if they want to talk. Sometimes, just being available is enough to push through a slump.