What to do when you notice the symptoms of clinic depression in family and friends? The spate of suicide attempts being recorded across the nation in recent times has assumed a rather worrisome dimension. Depression ranges in seriousness from mild, temporary episodes of sadness to severe, persistent depression. Feeling depressed is a normal reaction to loss, life's struggles, or even heartbreak. But when these feelings become overwhelming, involve physical symptoms, and last for long periods of time, that's when it's time to seek medical help.
Not getting treatment can be life threatening as research has it that more than one out of every 10 people battling depression commits suicide. How do you know if you or a person around you is clinically depressed?

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, symptoms of depression may include the following:
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering details, and making decisions
• Fatigue and decreased energy
• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, and/or helplessness
• Feelings of hopelessness and/or pessimism
• Insomnia, early-morning wakefulness, or excessive sleeping
• Irritability, restlessness
• Loss of interest in activities or hobbies once pleasurable, including sex
• Overeating or appetite loss
• Persistent aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems that do not ease even with treatment
• Persistent sad or anxious
• Thoughts of suicide, suicide attempts

Depression carries a high risk of suicide. Anybody who expresses suicidal thoughts or intentions should be taken very, very seriously.
Warning signs of suicide with depression include:
• A sudden switch from being very sad to being very calm or appearing to be happy.
• Deep sadness, loss of interest, trouble sleeping and eating.
• Losing interest in things one used to care about.
• Making comments about being hopeless, helpless, or worthless.
• Putting affairs in order, tying up loose ends, changing a will.
• Talking about suicide (killing one's self).
• Visiting or calling people one cares about

If you or anyone you know is showing any of the warning signs of suicide with depression, seek professional medical help or call the National Suicide Preventive Initiative on 08062106493 or 08092106493.

Nice one. Could you please confirm if this suicide hotline is really active. Has anyone tried it? If so, what was the experience. Do they have a website? Physical address. You can reach me via email if possible.