In this editorial, the authors discuss 3 factors which may lead to the psychological nature of a suicidal crisis not being recognized. These factors are: 1) public education efforts have created an impression that depressive illness is easy to recognize when this often is not the case; 2) many suicide victims interpret their dilemma as a physical health crisis; & 3) a common tendency not to make a diagnosis of clinical depression when “reasons” for experiencing a depressed mood are present.