My mom has had bouts of depression her whole life, as far as I can tell. She's gone through some tough times, but always came out of it okay. She has tried medication, but the side effects are too strong for her and she doesn't have enough support around to get through them, so she always stops taking them. She's gone to therapy on and off, but unfortunately it doesn't seem to help her very much.

It wasn't until the pandemic isolation started that things started to really take a turn for the worst. She separated from her second husband (things were rocky pre-pandemic) and started renting an apartment and living on her own. She saw a few men here and there that didn't treat her right, and she eventually realized she was getting addicted to alcohol. She checked herself into rehab for substance abuse. She was in good spirits when she left, but her depression was still pretty bad. She was a social worker for the elderly who also had hard lives, so she was around a lot of tragedy. Her employers also started to discriminate against her due to the alcoholism (though even at her worst she never drank on the job). She was essentially bullied into quitting because the environment became so toxic. 

Money was already tight, and it was now getting worse. Because she technically quit, she was not allowed unemployment. Her depression was bad enough that she tried for disability, but it's a slow and difficult process and still wouldn't likely be enough for all the debt she began to rack up. She tried a few jobs here and there, but even her most recent one which she was excited to get she had to quit because her depression made her completely unable to work. She eventually moved in with her younger brother - my uncle - but it's a tight household with three adults, including my mom, and two younger children. They also don't really understand what she's going through, and it makes the for a stressful living situation. She got a job at a grocery store, but she was really struggling to adjust to that kind of work schedule after a life of 9 - 5's.

There's more to it, but that's what is mostly relevant to the current day. Yesterday she had an unemployment hearing, and was trying to fight for herself to get the money she is owed since she hadn't actually wanted to quit her job. I live a few states away from her and I'm not in a very comfortable financial situation - and I also have depression. So visiting her and being there for her physically has been a challenge, which is difficult as I am one of the few people she has who can give her the emotional support she needs. I texted her this morning asking about the hearing, and she texted me back saying that it didn't go well and that she had to make an appointment to "get treatment" and that she would update me later. I ended up talking to her brother to get more info and he told me that she was suicidal and went for that reason. It's been a few hours and all I've heard so far is that she is getting evaluated. 

All this to say... I just don't know what to do. I feel like there's nothing I can do and it's so painful how useless I am. I can't even feel sadness or fear right now - I'm just numb. If I had a better job and a lot of money then I could help, maybe move in with her or at least ease her financial troubles, but I'm barely keeping myself afloat. 

Does anyone have any advice they can offer in this situation? I'm doubtful, but mostly I just needed to write this out because I'm so stressed. Are there programs out there that can help, or charities I can reach out to that might be able to mitigate her financial burdens (as that's what really enhances her depression)? I've been a lot better at reaching out to her often and she knows I'm there for her, but I cant think of anything else to say that will help. I don't think there is anything. 

Life is just really... so unfair.