Hmmm, I'd say that meditation in all of its forms, whether it comes as a result of organized religion, or is a secular type of practice, can help someone who has depression. Of course, there are levels of depression, and I'm not a doctor, so it's always best to listen to yourself, and if you don't find yourself getting better, seeing a doc might be best.
But, there are times when we all become depressed. This life can weigh us down at times, and meditation and prayer have been very helpful during such times for me. It was when I was an atheist, without prayer in my life, that I suffered the most.
Hope u find something that works.
