Many people suffer from depression but choose to suffer in silence; perhaps they are undiagnosed or fear the stigma of being labelled as “depressed”.

This book, written by healthcare professionals, presents tales of resilience, recovery and joy, but also tales of defeat and despair. While some stories describe and depict the act of taking one’s life, the intention is to reflect the reality that often, the story of depression cannot be told without addressing the idea of suicide. Indeed, studies have shown that depression is the leading cause of death by suicide worldwide. Suicide is a serious matter, and readers should likewise treat it as such.

The nine stories in this book remind readers that you are not alone. If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal ideation, please know that help is available through various helplines, as well as medical practitioners.

The contributors are Dr Arvind Rajagopalan, Chermain Wong, Faith Wong, Dr Gillian Lim, Jessica Chan, Dr Lan Zhongzheng, Dr Lee Yu Wei, Lim Wee Onn, Dr Mok Yee Ming, and Teresa Thia. They are medical partitioners who work or have previously worked with the Institute of Mental Health, Singapore.