The depressed young adult

Looking for advice from anyone who has gone through this...
My son, 19, a sensitive person, struggles with depression and anxiety, has ups and down, and is in therapy, but not on any meds. He's currently in a very down place, he says (quite earnestly) he just wants to die so he doesn't have to feel the pain anymore. I'm thankful that he's open with me about it, but I don't really know how to help him. His therapist recommends journaling and getting exercise. He got himself up and went to class today, which is huge progress, but he's just miserable. What can I do?

Edit- thanks everyone. he has agreed to trying medication so that’s really good. here’s to getting through another day.

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cherokeepatti · 61-69, F

I don’t know if you have considered it but a naturopath may be able to help if he is motivated to go along with it. Many times neurotransmitters can be balanced with a diet that creates a healthy microbiome in the gut and can creates something called butyrate that creates GABA which is the master neurotransmitter helping to balance out all of the others.

Fallflower · 46-50, F

@cherokeepatti a better diet would help. I didn’t know naturopaths did that sort of thing