Last Tuesday, Germanwings Flight 9525 was deliberately flown into a mountainside in the French Alps by the co-pilot, Andreas Lubitz.

After locking his pilot out of the cockpit, Lubitz proceeded to fly the plane into the side of a mountain, subsequently killing all 150 passengers on the plane.

Throughout the course of the on-going investigation, it came to light that Lubitz had previously suffered from at least one serious bout of depression, documented by emails sent by Lubitz to Lufthansa flight school in Bremen.

Lubitz returned to training in 2009 after several months off, and the airline stated he did pass all medical checks.

According to Fox News, news reports stated Lubitz’s long-time relationship had ended the day prior to the crash and that he had been experiencing vision problems, something that would have eventually cost him his job.

In light of this recent event, we believe it more critical than ever to reiterate how important it is for those suffering from depression to reach out.

Depression is a serious illness caused by a combination of genetic, biological, environmental and psychological factors. In MRIs, the brains of those suffering from depression show up differently, including the parts that deal with mood, behavior and sleep.

There is no shame in needing a helping hand. There is nothing wrong with admitting you can’t handle it alone anymore.

If you or someone you know is suffering from depression, reach out. You can call Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), regardless if you’re feeling suicidal or not. Lifeline professionals are trained to handle a multitude of situations, including substance abuse, depression, sexual orientation, family problems and getting past an abusive relationship.