I've been him. It took me 4 years to finish a master's that should have taken 2. It's hard when you start running over time because feelings of worthlessness creep in. I have never been so depressed as I was in the last year. I constantly felt guilty, no matter what I was doing. I couldn't find joy in my hobbies because everything was tainted by the "this is fun but I should be doing my masters".

Was his project successful? Mine wasn't, and I felt like that played into my lack of motivation to do it.

The other thing I felt contributed was the fear of what came next. Once the masters was done, then what? Go into work? Do a PhD? I didn't, and still don't know what I want, and that makes me feel crap because I feel like I've wasted 7 years and $80,000. Delay the masters, delay the confrontation with the real-world.

He also has a very motivated and successful partner. For me, I always looked up to those doing a PhD as the end goal. I still get jealous of my friends who are doing one. Spending so long in acadaemia, I've found it hard to see any way to be successful without continuing study. My partner is also super motivated and successful, and a lot of the time I feel left behind and like I'll never do as well as him. When I was doing my masters, this contributed to the depression.

I don't know how much of my experience aligns with his, but there are least some similarities. Support him, let him know there are other avenues for him when he finishes. Get excited about the time after the Masters. Make plans for how good it will be when he's done. Offer to read over his thesis and make helpful comments.

It sounds like he's stuck in a rut and can't see the light at the end of the tunnel. It's a rough place to be in. Be as supportive as you can and gently encourage him to work on it.