Atleast the good thing about today is that people do recognise depression as a serious disorder. 20 years ago when I underwent through a depression cycle and got kept entertaining thoughts of suicide and shit like that (something I find horrifying today), people around me couldn't even realise what was wrong. Luckily a complete change of environment, and education institution and people, more of a stroke of luck changed things around for me. Not everybody is that lucky.
Clinical depression is serious and people need to realise this and recognise symptoms of those around them who exhibit such tendences and get them help before it is too late.