suicide!

 An unfortunate loss at close quarters. A young office staff. 

Reminded me of my friend, just out of medical school, 25 years back.

We had co-managed and abated two likely deaths due to suicide. A medical student who had taken an overdose of barbiturates and a young man, who came frothing in his mouth with obvious signs of organo-phosphorus (a common insecticide in the tea gardens near by) poisoning. We had fought valiantly in both cases, stayed up the entire nights of their emergency admissions, undertook gastric lavage and gave them the recommended treatment, till both came out of danger. 

Little did I know, that my friend himself was undergoing emotional disturbances and mental anguish due to problems at home. Unfortunately he knew the exact dosage of phenobarbital that would prove fatal. 

Like in this case, the young staffer knew exactly when no one would be around, in his crowded two roomed home. 

What compels a person to take his life? How can those around be sensitive to what's happening in peoples lives and inside their minds? What can be done to mitigate this situations?

Tough questions! I wish I had some answers.