Quick background. Me and her mother separated a few months ago and we co-parent two smaller kids. Her daughter, 15, whom I’ve known since she was 5 and who lives with her mom full time now has confided in me that she is depressed, sad and always angry. It’s been a pretty contentious and stressful break-up; me and the mother are also not on good terms. We keep a distance and really only exchange when it comes to the 2 smaller kids, which are mine.

She and her mom are constantly fighting, her mom never takes her anywhere but goes out with her friend all the time and leaves her daughter at home every weekend. Then yells at her if the house isn’t clean as if she’s her mother’s maid among other things

Being I’m not her father and never adopted her, I know I’m very limited on what I can and/or should do.

But I think her daughter really needs help. Unfortunatly, her mom has been the main reason behind the depression. I have pages of texts from her daughter telling me how miserable she is living with her. And we’ve had extensive conversations about her situation. I’ve done my best to be supportive and be there for her but there’s a line I can’t cross being she’s not my daughter by blood or law.

She has no one else to talk to so I let her vent. But don’t know what to do. I feel I need to tell her mother but I fear that may worsen the situation being she’s been the cause.

And I acknowledge the separation is also part of the issue but I’m just going off what my stepdaughter has shared with me in confidence.

Any advice is appreciated.