Have you helped a guy friend with depression? What was helpful and useful?

[javacat]

I think one of my friends is sinking into a clinical depression. This is a someone who've I've known for decades, but we've started talking intimately just recently, like a week or so ago.  Change in sleep habits, unusual mostly sad but sometimes euphoric thoughts, now I'm hearing about weight loss and food not having any taste, and feeling like he's in a hole. I feel badly that I didn't put the pieces together until now, but it's adding up.  Everyone I know who's been depressed is a woman, including myself.  The Internets tell me to be supportive and get him out and about and NOT to say, "how are you? You sound depressed,"  which is what I just deleted from sending in email.  Instead I asked if he wanted to get together.  Here are suggestions: www.wikihow.com/Help-Someone-with-Depression  Have you helped a guy friend with depression? What was helpful and useful?