Fortunately, I moved abroad. An English doctor swiftly diagnosed the problem. I’d developed temporal lobe epilepsy. The bouts of suicidal depression were an “aura” signaling the onset of a partial seizure. Today, on epilepsy medication, I feel fine — as I have for years.

Ms. Spade was not so fortunate. Depression killed her, as it still kills far too many people. My heart goes out to her family and friends. May this kind and gifted woman rest in peace. And may we all have more compassion for those fighting against suicidal depression.

— Oriole, Toronto

I suffer from depression. Today was another very dark day for me. I feel no hope and my life doesn’t have meaning. My situation is very different than Ms Spade’s. She has accomplished a tremendous amount. A child. Probably many friends. Her story is very much an illustration of depression as illness, it seems.

I’m more isolated. I’m very smart, funny and other positive things and can’t believe my life is what it is. I am looking reluctantly for a therapist because I am enduring this almost alone. I say reluctantly because a good one is hard to find. Part of what I’m going through currently is grief. I was a family caregiver, and not many care how we do after the person is gone. And I’m deeply worried about surviving financially.

Depression comes from different places, but it’s all the same darkness.

— Wish I Could Tell You, New York

As someone who has often contemplated suicide, I hope her family knows that such a death does not reflect any lack of love and caring for them. Whenever I reached my suicidal lows, I was convinced that my life was an unbearable burden not only for myself, but for them as well. It seemed the best for them in my muddled state.

Again, my deepest sympathy for the family left to cope with the grief of this.

— Elaine Turner, Colorado