Some people in this thread have mentioned that ECT is only considered when doctors have "exhausted all alternatives". Does that include the use of psychedelics? I don't know about you, but before electrocuting my brain I might be willing to try a particular mushroom that humanity has been using for thousands of years to alleviate feelings of despair and meaninglessness, and one which has shown serious promise in that regard in several recent studies. It's really too bad most governments saw fit to make it highly illegal.
Disclaimer: Not for everyone. I am not a doctor. Do not eat fungi you find in the wild unless you are a trained mycologist.