Drew, your post was touching and obviously very much from the heart.
However it sounds as though you believe all depression is environmentally induced and that the sufferer has a choice in how they feel. Some depressions are caused by a chemical imbalance, environment has little or nothing to do with it and the person has no control over their feelings and emotions.
I have suffered major depression while at the peak of running a successful small business, with good income, living on a beautiful rural property, surrounded by a loving family, etc. There was nothing wrong with my life but I was struck with a deep depression due to chemical imbalance within my body. At the time I could have won the lottery or been awarded a Nobel prize and I still wouldn't have felt good about myself.
At the other end of the scale, last year I dealt with a significant stock market loss, a string of health problems and a personal tragedy without sinking into a depression because all was balanced within my brain. Depression is not just about positive and negative attitude, or positive/negative circumstances, it can be much more complex than than and can manifest itself in different ways depending on the individual.
What you say about being supportive of family and friends is absolutely correct and very important, it can make all the difference. And I also agree that anyone suffering from depression needs help and encouragement to see the positives and good things in the world. But the inference that people who feel suicidal are being selfish or cowardly or weak is cruel and unfair. These people are fighting harder than you will ever know to beat the dark thoughts and overwhelming pain that they are experiencing. I've had suicidal thoughts on many occasions when I've been in a deep depression. Believe me it's not a nice place to be and it takes an exhaustive effort to fight against it. For anyone to succumb to such unbearable emotional pain and the feeling they are so worthless or so trapped that there is no other way out is a tragedy indeed.
I too hope that threads such as this may assist others to either seek help if needed or to be able to observe and recognise symptoms of depression in someone they know.
Unfortunately mental illness carries a stigma and often people are ashamed or unwilling to admit to or talk about it. But it needn't be so and thankfully the subject is now much more openly discussed and many sufferers are taking the necessary steps to get treatment.
Macca said it best imo... "if you are sick with the flu you'd see a doctor"... let's hope more people heed that very good advice and see their doctor if they're feeling down or depressed.
