I think it depends on what stage the person is in. Right now I am in "garden variety, hard to manage to shower" depression, but I am not particularly hating myself overtly or anything. I could probably manage a walk. I could manage a walk easier if there was someone here to encourage me.
When I am spaced out completely and out of touch? I have dissociated, and it is probably a damned good thing because I am on the verge of doing myself in, so I may be quite different from how Ian is when he can't do anything. I know when I am like that I want someone that I can trust to take control of the situation, because I feel so out of control, even if I don't look like it. I want someone to be able to make some decisions (for instance, is it time to get hospitalized? Do we need to call the therapist?) without asking me for input. But that is during a very severe episode, when I am not responding to outside stimuli.
Still, sometimes it does feel good to have someone hand you a jacket and say, "come one, we are going for a walk", or make you a cup of tea and say " You need to talk" and take some decision making out of your hands.
At least, that is the way *I* feel when it gets bad.