Have a friend who sectioned himself 3 times and was sectioned again twice. God he was in a bad way, long mood swings, happy and normal for a year or more, then a year or more of total misery, hence the sectioning. He was on lithium to help him but it never worked - £2k a pop to the tax payer. I've no real clue what drove him to this, and I don't think he did either, no real family trauma, very happy childhood.
Anyway he calls me one day from Scotland (met hime there, I was in Leeds then) asking if he could come down and stay because he was in a bad way and couldn't cope. Me and the missus met him in town (in the Scabby Taps!) and he told what he'd done a few days ago. He'd sat on the tracks on the West Coast Mainline with his back to the traffic and waited. After a few minutes he heard the train and steeled himself, train went past him, typical James! That's his name. So he moved to the other line and waited. Heard the train coming but couldn't go through with it and rolled off. And called me next day.
Anyway he met my (Russian) partner (no, not mail order, met her in Russia!) and that inspired him to look for another woman (his wife left and divorced him, because of his mood swings). We had a good time, some laughs and he cheered up no end. Went home and not long after he told me he'd 'gone foreign' met a Romanian girl. After a while they married and he's never looked back. That was 2013, no return of the Black-eyed Dog, one happy bloke.
I think you can do a lot ny just been there for people and not trying to avoid uncomfortable situations, image if I'd said 'no, mate, too busy' - he's a mate full stop so that would never come from me though I know people who would do that.
I am reminded now of Nick Drake, Black-eyed Dog..