Meds question

I have a friend who is dealing with depression, and has been for years now. He's not suicidal, but he's definitely depressed. He's been reluctant to seek help...trying to figure out meds and therapy is a little overwhelming. (Hell, a LOT of things are overwhelming when you're depressed...) Personally, I've been on 50 mg of Zoloft for a decade now, and it has helped me reach a much better quality of life, and I'd love for my friend to find some light in his darkness, too.

So here's my question, what guidance would you give regarding meds? Just cross your fingers and trust your doctor? Are there any meds that are "milder" than others? Meds to avoid? It's been years since I did my initial research about Zoloft, and it just happens to work really well for me.