Since this thread is already up -- let's make an effort now to reach out to anyone who needs reaching out to, to increase the odds that depressed LW readers have social support. That is: if you know a LW-er online or in person who is depressed, make contact with them. If you're a good listener with a couple of free hours in your life, echo Alicorn's offer of help. If you have a bit of spare money and a good CBT book to recommend, offer to mail it to someone who'd read it. If you have useful well-being tips and can write, consider making a front-level post (on happiness tips or CBT or the like, not on topics that might prime suicide).

You know... many people on LW seem likable, but I don't feel as if anyone here is actually my friend. I'm not saying that to express disdain or reject the idea of forming relationships; I'm observing that it is surprising. I ordinarily get attached to people quite easily (I send cookies to people I used to play World of Warcraft with years ago), but that just hasn't happened at all here.

So I don't know who might actually be in trouble, or how to help. There are a few people I'd say I've gotten a bad vibe off of, but nothing strong enough to really act on. If anyone is reading this and would like someone to listen to them, just generally be nice to them, or help in some other way, I hope they'll send me a message. But I'm afraid they probably won't.