good ideas everyone! I'm bipolar and I the help I usually need is to help me focus and set realistic goals. I tend to get overwhelmed and start using the "everys" example "everything sucks, everybody hates me etc." I have a whiteboard in my room with what i need to do everyday and it has really helped. Simple things like take a shower, check the mail, do the dishes, make food, call a friend, fill my pill box etc. also i throw in bigger things like go to work, buy groceries, pick up prescriptions. It helps me to check stuff off and i feel productive.

When she's stable maybe sign a contract? my boyfriend and i have one that basically says if xy and z happen he has my permission to call my therapist/send me to the er for an eval. that way i can't get mad because i see that at some point i agreed to that and i don't feel anger towards him.

You know your friend so just ask her what she needs from you. If she answers "i dont know" or "you can't help me i'm a failure" offer a suggestion of something you can do (see lad007 suggestions above) and don't argue/try to convince her of anything, in that state we can't see the truths usually. just validate what she's saying "i hear you feel _____) there's probably a website for "therapeutic communication" I'll go look