Title: Depression and Suicide
Headings: Depression and Suicide
Depression and Suicide
Table of Contents
What Is Depression?
Signs of Depression
What Causes Depression?
What Treatments Are Available?
Suicide
How Can You Tell if Suicide Is a Possibility?
Misconceptions About Suicide
How Can I Help a Depressed Person?
Resources

Content: Depressed individuals who are at high risk of killing themselves may need to be in a hospital temporarily. While this may seem like a drastic measure, it can be life-saving, and it may allow the person to get the treatment and support that they need. Suicide
Suicide is the second leading cause of death in young people. A major cause of suicide is mental illness, very commonly depression. People feeling suicidal are overwhelmed by painful emotions and see death as the only way out, losing sight of the fact that suicide is a permanent "solution" to a temporary state—most people who try to kill themselves but live later say they are glad they didn't die. Most people who die by suicide could have been helped. An individual considering suicide frequently confides in a friend, who may be able to convince them to seek treatment. When the risk is high, concerned friends and relatives should seek professional guidance. Suicidal thoughts may be fleeting or more frequent, passive (e.g., "What if I were dead?") or active (e.g., thinking of ways to kill oneself, making a plan).