how do you help someone who is dealing with depression

You can't. And you don't want to.

The SECOND somebody gets the idea that somebody else has the responsibility for 'saving them' because of 'their depression' THAT persons life becomes a misery !

Depression falls into one of two catagories.
Either it's that persons own definition of depression. In which case only THEY know how to lift their mood.
OR it's Clinically Diagnosed by a Doctor or therapist. In which case the subject should have coping mechanisms or drugs given to them specifically for that purpose.

Don’t lecture them , don’t give unwanted advice , don’t get mad if they don’t take your advice, don’t judge them and listen to them. I’m depressed so what I do is try to eat healthy, I try to exercise and get enough sleep , if I can’t exercise Then I try to set basic self care goals to achieve such as get dressed or shower or cook some food for myself to eat , I try to plan what I want to do in the future gives me something to look forward to and I try to open up new opportunities for myself.

I just try to listen to them when they call.sometimes I'll just drop them off a surprise.Just so they smile just for a minute.Depression is so bad. Gosh I hate it.

Be there to listen. Don't try to do more than you can, don't try to be their hero, just be their friend.

Depression is difficult to understand or explain. As someone who has been dealing with it for 35 years or so i can tell you that the strangest things will trigger it. When i am having a bad day and someone tries to make me feel better it usually has the opposite effect because i feel bad that i am making their life difficult. This is why many people who deal with depression become VERY good at hiding it from the world until it's too late. I will come on a website like this and discuss my feelings (about myself) but i won't do the same with family or friends in real life because i don't want them to feel bad but then i end up feeling isolated which is not good either....it is truly a vicious cycle.

Ask them why they’re depressed and help them to snap out of it.

You don't they won't want your help anyway and even if you try to help people its usually thrown back in your face

Don'tbtry to "fix" them or tell them just to cheer up and snap out of it. Be supportive and listen and just be there, without trying to change things or offer advice. There isn't always a rational reason (or a reason at all) that we get depressed. It's a medical condition, that can sometimes be caused by past trauma, but not always. Sometimes, we don't want anyone around, or need anything from anyone, except to know that you will be there when/if we do need you.

Be there....tolerate their moods....and just listen, if they wish to talk .

It's a very hard road to walk with someone who is dealing with depression.

Be a friend to them.