Quote Originally Posted by Rawhide View Post
I've never heard it refer to helplessness. Not in the media, not anywhere
That speaks more of your own personal experience. For my part, I haven't seen it used much at all, but when it has in this context it tends to be as a euphemism the more clearly pejorative 'cry for attention'. It's also worth noting that seriously depressed people are very likely to apply it in a negative context to themselves. So in their case "cry for help" becomes "helpless" becomes "pathetic" becomes "worthless".

A cry for help means just that, a cry for help. The phrase does not imply helplessness at all. Linking the phrase "a cry for help" to helplessness undermines the whole message.
Consider the term 'attention-seeking'. On that face of it, its literal meaning isn't negative - after all, some problems require and can benefit from receiving attention. In practice however, the term is smothered in negative connotations and is a highly dismissive/pejorative label.