It always hurts me to the core whenever I read of someone committing suicide whilst in the throes of depression. Much worse is murder/suicide.I always say depression is too mild a word to describe what is in fact a serious mental illness. The medical profession obviously realised this and has made some attempt at remedying the problem by ascribing the term "clinical depression" to the affliction. This is no great improvement because it does not convey anything to the lay person.
Depression is all about how the person suffering from the condition is feeling inside and how it affects not only their mood but their mental ability and attitudes. It also affects their way of looking at people and situations. Alternatively, they think that the depressed person is simply giving-in to stress etc, and urge them to snap out of it, not realising that for people who are severly depressed this is simply not physically or mentally possible.
I urge family and friends, who suspect their loved one may be depressed, to exercise patience and familiarise themselves of the signs of depressions and know that there is help and hope. Understanding a little can go a long way and maybe save a life or two.
Sally Khan,
via e-mail