As many of us has figured out antidepressants may not work. It is a total crap shoot and it takes time and effort to find a combination of meds that help. Even then it may only help a few symptoms. My meds help the physical effects of depression. Fatigue, feeling weighed down and slow, it helps the focus and help being able to think and function. When I was depressed without meds I found it hard to think and do my job, not because of my job but the operation of looking at something, taking inputs and being able to form a thought. Mood stuff, hopelessness and similar symptoms the meds have not helped. There are a number of people who took their life and we're taking antidepressants. They obviously did not help them feel better and get out of depression.

Feeling sad is a natural emotion and healthy in a lot of regards. It let's us know of something we don't like and is a contrast to joy that let's someone experience a range of emotion. Life events can cause and should cause sadness. From the disappointment of dropping your favorite ice cream on the floor to experiencing someone very close to you die. It doesn't necessarily mean you are depressed.

Sadness from depression is a lot more painful. It persistent and often doesn't have a reason to exist. There is something wrong when you wake up you immediately want to curl up in a ball and cry, or throughout the day you cry for no reason and feel unrelenting sadness that greatly impacts your life.

I think everyone thinking about suicide should evaluate these thoughts and determine if they are powerful enough to and cause distress in your life. Having a suicide thought doesn't always mean taking a medication. Therapy or counseling could help, or even talking to a loved one and trying to figure out if there is a reason why you feel this way and a way to resolve what is causing these thoughts. With depression there may not be a good reason or anything that is easily or fixable if you don't have the skills. Depressions hallmarks are feeling worthless, sad, hopeless, and those are emotionally painful. It isn't a big leap to want to end that pain anyway you can.