I have a friend whose mother treats him like crap. He tries so hard in school, and has never gotten a grade bellow A-. Even so, the mother grounds him for trivial things like talking on the phone too long, or staying up past 9. It's not just her being incredibly strict.

His mother has serious problems. She sleeps all day, she doesn't interact with ANYONE, and she's just depressed all the time. Also, his father is always away.

For the most part, my friend doesn't think anyone cares about him. He moved away a couple years ago, and all he gets is crap whether he's at home or at school. I'm seriously afraid for his health, and I think he's ready to do something drastic just to get his parents to CARE about him.

I don't know how to help him, or how to get through to his mother.

Help.