I've been reading the responses to the post from Mylifeisdepressing. Interesting to see the different perspectives disclosed.

I don't know if it's "courage" that causes one to take his or her life. My dad took his life. I know he was in a lot of emotional pain after years of downward spiraling. I chose to look at it as his means of stopping the pain. I didn't understand it at the time but after experiencing bouts of depression myself as an adult I probably understand more now what that feeling of despair is.

My biggest regret is that my then 12-year-old brother found my dad and that has scarred him for life. Decades later he still won't discuss it, and is still trying to "protect" others in the family from that horrible experience. We all ended up scarred from it. Sad, sad thing.