What's the difference between depression and suicidal tendencies?

Question

I am feeling a bit confused about what the difference is between someone who is suicidal and someone who is depressed. I understand that someone who is suicidal is wishing for their death sentence, but it truly is a fine line between someone who feels helpless and someone who just doesn’t see any way out. Is there a difference in the warning signs? I was depressed and thought about my death all the time, what my funeral would be like, how I could “accidentally” get hurt crossing the street or falling out a window, but never really wanted to take my thoughts anywhere outside my mind. I figured I was just really depressed. Anyway, how can you tell the difference? I know my friend is depressed, and since I was depressed a while back I can see the signs, but I mean…I thought about death all the time and never tried to commit suicide, I can’t tell if this is something I should worry about? Maybe I was more messed up than I thought? Should I not worry about my friend? I can’t tell if this is something serious I need to confront her about I need advice!

Answer 1

Just let her know that you are there for her. That always helps. And if this is high school drama don't worry about it, it will all eventually pass.

Answer 2

Depression and suicide ideation are two entirely different things.  A person can have depression with no consideration for suicide, and a person can consider suicide with absolutely no depression.  You merely associate the two because they are presented as two co-existing conditions in the media, and also probably because of your own personal availability heuristic.  

Here are some examples in which the two do not coincide:  sometimes individuals who are abusing illicit substances, particularly hallucinogens, commit suicide.  Sometimes, people have dysthymia, a type of depression in which everything is negative and bad, but they merely feel that they have a crappy life, not that they want to end their crappy life.  Seasonal affective disorder, in which people feel depressed around winter months, often feel lazy and lack energy due to vitamin deficiency and lower levels of activity, but typically are not experiencing any suicide ideation.

As far as your friend goes, you shouldn't worry too much about her unless she expresses subtle signs of suicide ideation, like saying, "I'd be better off dead" or things like that.  For the most part, you should do your best to get her out of the house, go on fun adventures or new places, and encourage her to get help if she needs it.