Some thoughts on suicide and guilt

Suicide carries with it a tremendous stigma and often involves an enormous sense of guilt on the part of the survivors. Yet I think it bears repeating that no one is "responsible" for another person's suicide. If you have a friend or family member who committed suicide, even if you missed some of the warning signs or didn't take a threat seriously, it's still not your fault.

And I say this both as the creator of this site and as someone who has attempted suicide. When I got to the point where I made my final attempt, there was nothing that anyone could have said or done to stop me. The fact that I survived was pure coincidence. Had I died, it would have been nobody's fault but mine.

So yes, by all means, reach out to people you know who show signs of depression, but please don't blame yourself if the worst happens.