― Jonathan Safran Foer, Everything Is Illuminated
I believe, chronic depression can lead to feelings of despair and hopelessness, and a suicide attempt is one way some people (yes, SOME people) choose to express these feelings. I think most people who attempt or commit suicide don't really want to die- may be they just want their pain and suffering to end? I also don’t think a suicide attempt is also not done to gain someone's sympathy, as those that attempt to take their life do it for internal reasons-they simply can't stand the pain they feel emotionally and or physically.
The majority of the people who take their lives (estimated at 90%) were suffering with an underlying mental illness and substance abuse problem at the time of their death. They weren't sick, but their brains were!!! Too often we think that a person is their brain, that’s where their personality or character resides. This is not true.
The brain is an organ just like the liver, the kidneys, the gall bladder, etc. When it gets sick too often the appearance of the problem is in the form of a mental illness, as in the case of depression, anxiety disorders, or even schizophrenia. If the brain is sick too long, research says it can lead a person to taking their lives. This isn't always the case, as millions of people live with depression and never attempt or die by suicide.
