Asking direct, caring questions will often minimize the anxiety and act as a deterrent to suicidal behavior. The tendency toward suicide is inherited. Suicidal patterns in a family are the result of other factors and may result from a belief in the myth which facilitates suicidal actions. The suicidal person wants to die. Suicidal persons often reveal considerable ambivalence about living vs. dying and frequently call for help before and after a suicide attempt.
All suicidal persons are depressed.
Depression is often associated with suicidal feelings but not all persons who attempt or commit suicide are depressed. A number of other emotional factors may be involved. Many persons who have attempted or committed suicide would not have been diagnosed as mentally ill. Once an attempt has been made, the suicidal person will always be suicidal. Suicide crosses all socio-economic group boundaries.