Dear Barefoot--

Welcome to the forums. You have already received some loving, insightful answers. I hope you will keep coming back, and that you will invite your bf to come here for support as well. I cannot overstate how the repetition of good advice I've received here helped me to take steps to lighten my depression.

It can be very challenging to maintain any kind of relationship once people move, whether in young, middle or old adulthood. The saying that absence makes the heart grow fonder does not seem to be true in many cases.

You are exploring a new life in college, and he is still back home in high school. This is very, very rough for him, with or without depression. Talking to his mother sounds like a good idea, as does offering statements of truth that counteract the distortions that depression tells us about our lack of worth.

You are being a good friend, and I think you can be proud of yourself for going about helping your friend so systematically and insightfully.

Best wishes for resolving this in the best interests of everyone.