Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.
All problems are temporary, because all problems have solutions.
You might not like the solution, but there is always a solution.
That said...
Most people think they know what depression is.
Most people are mistaken.
Most people who think they know what depression is, have had the blues at some time. They think that is depression.
Thinking that you know what depression is, because you have had the blues, no matter how 'deeply' you had the blues... Is like thinking you know what it is to be a paraplegic, because you have stubbed your toe.
There is no real point of reference that can be used to explain depression, to someone who has not suffered it. Unless you have suffered it, you can never fathom the reality.
Now...
None of us can think of any logicical way that suicide will really solve anything. You can think of all kinds of other stuff you can do, besides commiting suicide.
But to someone who is clinicaly depressed, and suicidal... In their head. there IS no other choice. Everything they can think of, doesn't seem to them that it could work. And at that point, their brain chemistry is not only telling them they can't find a solution, but that if they could.. What would be the point ? Everything is useless. Even if they live, they'd still be a problem, themselves. Everyone, the world, would be better off without them.
At that point, in their chemically altered brains, suicide is the ONLY logical choice.
If you can't fathom that, you'll never understand why those people can not "just pull themselves up by their bootstraps".
Nor will you ever understand just how azzinine and idiotic it is to sit around and tell those people they should do so.
This man did not need someone to tell him to stop being a wuss, and get on with life. He didn't need platitudes and cliches from people who have never experienced what he was experiencing.
He needed help.
Same goes for his family and friends. They don't need to be told how much of a coward he was. They need help and understanding.