Many depressed patients have thought about suicide, but only some will act on it. Suicide is a symptomatic manifestation of depression and the result of a combination of factors. Up to 20% of people with depression die by suicide. Up to 40% of people who die by suicide in China suffer from depression. Among people aged 15 to 34 years, suicide is the number one cause of all deaths. Why do depressed patients commit suicide? Generally, they may find their suffering unbearable and inescapable, and are desperate because they cannot yet see the day when it will end. Some patients do not necessarily have the energy to commit suicide when their depression is very severe, and when they commit suicide after their mood has subsided, they may still feel hopeless. Others feel too tired in their struggle with the disease and thus commit suicide. Suicide is the result of a complex multifactorial process. However, some factors may play a more pronounced role and are referred to as risk factors for suicide. These factors include having multiple mental illnesses, being impulsive, experiencing multiple negative life events, having someone in the family who committed suicide, being exposed to domestic violence, and having witnessed someone else commit suicide. These factors are often not identical across age and gender groups, such as in adults who also include separation and divorce, and in children, aggressive and destructive behavior. An important aspect of suicide prevention is to remove some of the misconceptions, such as the belief that people who talk about suicide do not actually commit suicide. Many suicidal people go through a period of ambivalence during which they may not be able to stop talking about suicide, and learning about the views of others is a way to seek their attention and help. More commonly, people will try to avoid talking about suicide and depression. A person who actively brings up the topic may fear that the listener will think he or she is crazy, or too weak to be alienated or discriminated against. The result of avoidance is that depressed patients feel even more depressed because no one understands them and no one can help them. The first step in preventing suicide is to face the real situation and help depressed patients and those at risk of suicide to see a psychiatrist for evaluation and systematic treatment. Also provide them with a variety of support, including emotional support, and help discover resources such as a 24-hour psychological crisis intervention hotline to support them through this difficult time in their lives.