Best Anime for Depressives

On a Reddit forum, a user recently made a request that quickly caught the attention of the community: "Is there any anime that is about suicide or depression? I'm looking for a sad anime, something like what the title mentions, being alone, depression, and one that doesn't have a happy ending. Yes, I'm okay. I just wonder if there is a series that deals with this subject." The petition, which addresses sensitive and difficult issues, generated a variety of responses and recommendations from other forum members.

Despite the sensitive nature of the topic, many users decided to participate in the conversation, suggesting series that explore the dark corners of the human mind and portray the internal struggle of characters facing loneliness, despair, and emotional pain. Although these works of fiction rarely focus exclusively on suicide, they touch on themes such as depression, social isolation, and hopelessness, resonating with viewers looking for a raw representation of these experiences.

Interest in anime with sad or melancholic themes is not new, but the petition on Reddit has reignited an important question: why do some people seek this type of content? For many, these anime provide a way to connect emotionally with characters going through similar difficulties, which can offer a type of emotional catharsis. Watching the characters struggle with issues like depression, some viewers may feel less alone in their own internal battles.

"Welcome to NHK".
"A Silent Voice".
"Orange. Particularly that of adolescents. March comes in like a lion".
"March Comes In Like a Lion".
"It's not completely what you're asking for because it doesn't have an ending yet, but March Comes in Like a Lion addresses depression much better than most anime. There's always a heavy atmosphere around the main character and his thoughts, an atmosphere that doesn't stop small happy moments from happening, but those moments don't stop depression from sticking to him either. Listening to his inner monologue is like being in a swamp, I really want the best for the protagonist after everything he's been through."
"Haibane Renmei. Although it has a good ending, it gets quite heavy."
"Evangelion doesn't exactly have a happy ending. It's pretty terrible, actually. It's also about depression."
"Death Parade".
"Sayonara Zetsubo Sensei".
"Re:ZERO, but probably not in the way you're asking for."
"Clannad and Violet Evergarden also fit into this role."
"Mushoku Tensei".
"How about Your Lie in April? It deals more with crippling anxiety."
"Kizumonogatari (in a way). It is not something obvious or visible on screen, but there are fragments about the life of the protagonist and whether it is worth living, and suicide. It doesn't end well. Although there are constant moments of comedy, it's more of a mystery than a drama or action."
"Charlotte. Not the whole series, but one or two episodes do."
"No Longer Allowed in Another World. Although it is mostly an isekai adventure comedy, it also deals with common themes of depression, guilt, and how the problems they had in the previous world follow them into the new world. The protagonist is also quite suicidal, but mainly for comic reasons."
"Try The Ancient Magus Bride. I personally recommend it. The story is beautiful and full of emotions, and it also touches on mental health issues. The characters, of course, are very easy to identify."
"Wonder Egg Priority is good, although it ends on a cliffhanger and they're doing more, so you could count on it not having a good ending."
"Devilman Crybaby".
"Berserk has a lot of depression/trauma. Wonder Egg Priority is great until it's not."
"My favorite anime on this topic is Orange, if you haven't seen it yet."
"I Want to Eat Your Pancreas was a hard blow to digest, it doesn't address suicide, but the plot is based on a student discovering that one of his classmates is terminally ill, and it doesn't have a happy ending. A Silent Voice is also really good and addresses both suicide and depression."
"Kotaro Lives Alone".
"As far as recent anime go, Oshi No Ko is a good choice."
"Platinum End".
"Person 3. I know it's a game, but all four Persona 3 movies are VERY good! It tackles more themes of 'death' than depression, but when it touches on the protagonist's depression, it does it very well."
"Mushoku Tensei, although the anime is not over yet, the last season ends on a bittersweet note."
"Uramichi Oniisan. Also, it's not an anime, but Keiko Dreamobu's Life explores both themes. The live-action adaptation was as good as the manga."
"Eighty-Six 86. Best Music. Best storyboard. Better character development. Best Light Novel Adaptation. Best voice actors. Better representation of suicide and depression. Best girl, Lena. Best CGI in anime."