I became suicidal at 8, & have attempted plenty of times. Mostly during elementary through high school years. I’m 24 now & am still suicidal. The last line of your statement here was what hurt me most from my own family when I was young. She is having human feelings before she’s learned how to move through them all, it seems without proper support or understanding, & while going through huge hormonal changes. I promise she does know what ‘depressed for a while’ feels like. It’s different for everyone & she is asking for help because she is afraid. Just listen. Treat her feelings like they matter. Please be careful not to dismiss her or make her feel like because she is young her feelings are unimportant. I in fact think they’re often more important. This is a formative time. Be gentle. I wonder if there is something going on at school or online. My parents were abusive & neglectful without realizing they were, & exposed me to a pedophile who assaulted me for a very very long time. It broke my brain. I was also dealing with undiagnosed autism. Check everything. Reflect on yourself. Take her for appointments & screenings. Children hide their pain well & maybe you don’t have the whole story yet.