This really is a serious subject. I do agree with a lot of the posters that it entirely depends on the reasons behind the suicide/attempt.
My mother OD'd many many times throughout my childhood/adult years, every time it was timed that we kids a friend or Dad would arrive just in time to fix it. When I was younger I hated my mother for what she put us through but now that I am older and I know all her history, I can empathize a little with the idea that she had so much pain that she just didn't know how to deal with it other than to cry wolf.
With me my auto reaction is always wondering how much pain that person had to feel to decide that it is the only way to stop the pain. I do feel bad for the ones left behind, the ones that actually loved but didn't know how to help but more so for the loss of a life that maybe could have been helped somehow.
Depression is so hard for those of us who do deal with it and get by, we struggle hard & for some it is just too much to deal with......hopelessness can be a terrible hole to dig yourself into and the idea that you can get out easily is probably very soothing to some.
Not really a solid answer to the ? but I think most of us have probably felt almost that hopeless at some point, so can maybe see if not understand the why's as well as being very aware of how our depression affects others already sometimes that guilt just adds to the problem.

Hugz
Nams