suicide is general not a planned thing, it is spontaneous and therefore thats why you find many public occurrences. You have to remember people who are suffering depression arent in complete control/full state of mind in a way therefore they arent going to do it in a private place out of consideration of others
Actually, evidence would suggest otherwise. A spontaneous and emotion-charged attempt at suicide is often more so a cry for help than a complete desire to die. Those who are making a serious attempt will generally have it planned out in advance to ensure no obstacles can come in the way. It is frequently observed that a sort of "calm" can come over people in this instance, due to a feeling of perceived accomplishment and relief. (This is why, from what I have experienced at least, psychiatrists and psychologists can become concerned by a patient who shows no intense signs of emotion.)
Anyway, I don't know why I am even bothering to reply to this thread, as it's quite obvious that most people here are uninformed and narrow-minded in respect to the topic of depression and mental illness (as a side note: remember that depression will often be linked in with other mental health issues [e.g. Eating Disorders, Anxiety, PTSD, OCD], which can exacerbate the illness and its effects.)
I am basing my opinions and beliefs on anecdotal evidence, which I'd give a great deal of credit to, considering the sort of severe patients I've come into contact with.
I think a lot of people get confused about the difference between a "depressed state" and the illness that is Chronic Depression. Of course it is natural for a human being to swing between states of happiness and sadness, but a person suffering Depression will feel weighed down by a constant melancholy that can have nothing to do with any external factors. It is a chemical imbalance, and it requires medication to be corrected.
There seems to be an incorrect opinion amongst people who've not experienced it, that SSRI's and the like give some sort of euphoric high and are "happy meds". Not so. They can only correct what is wrong. They are not recreational drugs.
I do agree that the term "depression" is bandied about far too much these days, and meds given out without enough therapy in conjunction, as well as monitoring and follow-ups; however, I'd take that over the alternative, which is that millions of people suffer in their own private hell every day. It sounds melodramatic and ridiculous, but I can't describe it any other way.
Also, I take issue with young children and growing teenagers being prescribed psychiatric meds, but that is more an issue to do with the ethics of medical practitioners than whether or not Depression is a legitimate illness.
Lastly, I'd like to please ask the people who think of suicide as a selfish and disgusting act to truly think about whether they could be persuaded away from their strongest belief in life. Anything. Just think, would you listen to anyone else, or any rational argument, if you were so very sure that what you thought was 100% right?
I'm not trying to excuse anything or suggest that suicide is the best choice for anyone (it's not, and not enough is done for suicide prevention, in my opinion), but do try to at least have some empathy and attempt to understand why these people might go to these extreme lengths.
Do you think that it is a pleasant or comfortable experience to take one's own life? For someone to have such strong convictions about the fact that their death would improve things, not only for themselves, but for those around them and the world (because, ask anyone who has attempted suicide, and they will tell you exactly that) indicates a very, very sad and warped mental state. And how is it that people get to this point? Because they do not receive adequate assistance and care. And why would that be? Because there are people who label Depression an "illegitimate illness".