Are the depressed treated indifferently ?

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In some places in this country depression is not considered an accepted disease in that the people affected are termed 'nuts' or 'gone mad' type.Some time ago one of my friends got depressed and was looking sad.His relatives and friends started behaving as if he is a special person needed care with this the friend got depressed more and more.Some time later he refused to come out of his house and avoided meeting his friends also. I want to know if this kind of treatment is real or the person depressed felt indifferent to himself even when no outside experience is present?