People always seem to have an opinion on suicide like weak etc. while they grew up with love and support and never have to deal with depression or any darkness and just make the suicidal person even more lonely and weak....
It's good that you talk about this heavy topic everyone likes to avoid. And yes distraction helps. Depressed people see the reality not as it is so getting out of it (by distraction) can be a small step in the right direction.
Another step would be to find professional help ;)
It's profound ignorance thinking it is weakness, if the person called them every single time they felt emotional pain throughout the day, they would have a different view and better understanding. It's having 400 pounds on your back and going uphill in mud...and eventually falling down. That's not weakness.