Are those who are so depressed that they are close to suicide able to consistently put on a happy face for friends and family? I suppose they likely do perhaps? But I’d imagine the charade consumes an extremely high amount of emotional energy which might serve to heighten the depression. I feel like though that if someone were close enough that they’d have to detect some sort of inkling of a severe problem.
They look at Joe and see the same Joe they have been seeing their entire life, when in reality that Joe ain't there anymore, he's about to "step out"...
As someone who sees this, I have on multiple occasions heard, "He seemed like he was struggling, but the past few days/weeks things seemed to be better and he seemed much more calm and doing well."
Oftentimes, sadly, that's because the person has made the decision to end things, and that gives them some sense of relief for the pain they are going through.
I found the best summation in one of the most unlikely places, the show Nip/Tuck: "I think that if a person is in a great deal of pain, physical or spiritual, and they've exhausted all their options, I wouldn't judge them for it. I'd say a silent prayer and hope death brought them the peace of mind life never could give them."
