Essay about Anti-Depressants and Teen Suicide

The goal of this paper is to examine whether and how antidepressants are associated suicide risk in adolescents.

Antidepressant drugs taken by children have been linked to increased risk of suicide. Exasperated mental health professionals began prescribing antidepressants to children and teens in large proportions in the 1990’s, even though studied safety of such drugs for use in minors had not been conducted. Consequently, standard growth models and brain development may be impaired by the use of these drugs. Moreover, children may be risking one evil for another as adult years could prove to hold adverse side effects and health risks from prolonged use of these drugs.

Antidepressant drugs, which can be lifesaving, are being underused in young people. Their use fell significantly after the Food and Drug Administration issued its black-box warning in October of 2004, stating that all antidepressants were associated with a risk of increased suicidal feeling, thinking and behavior in adolescents; later on that warning was extended to young adults (Friedman 1). The Food and Drug Administration-FDA ordered drug companies to place a black-box warning on antidepressant drugs, this would then allow parents to see the side effects the drug might come with. As antidepressants can have its benefits, it is not the only way to treat a mental illness like depression. The majority of parents believe antidepressant is the only treatment and that psychotherapy is a waste of time and money. “About 80 percent of people with depression respond positively to professional medical treatment--usually talk therapy, medication or a combination of both--and almost all patients gain some relief from their symptoms. Unfortunately, less than half of those with depression seek treatment(Clayton

According to Fowler, Crosby, Parks, and Ivey (2013), suicide and nonfatal suicidal ideations are significant public health concerns for adolescents and young adults. While the onset of suicidal behaviors is observed as young as six years of age, rates of death and nonfatal injury resulting from suicidal behavior are moderately low until 15 years of age (Fowler et al., 2013). According to Fowler et al (2013), the most current available statistics in the United States (U. S.) reported suicide as the third leading cause of death among youth aged 10-14 and 15-19 years, and it was the second leading cause of death among persons aged 20-24 years.

Even though antidepressants serve as a temporary relief for teens with depression, they should not be considered an effective treatment to cure depression due to the side effects, risk of addiction, and increase thoughts of suicide. “Teen depression is a serious condition that affects emotions, thoughts and behaviors. Issues such as peer pressure, academic expectations, and changing bodies can bring a lot of ups and downs for teens” (Mayo Clinic). Depression does not discriminate; no matter what race, gender, or religion, depression can turn a person’s life upside down if they do not handle it correctly. “Depression usually starts between the ages of fifteen and thirty” (WebMD). Teen depression may be more common among members of a family

Teen depression is a serious condition that can be a devastating problem for both the child and parent. It is a disorder that reduces their moods thus causing loss of interest in things they should enjoy and make them irritable. In this literature review we are going to examine the use of antidepressants to treat teen depression. It will also look at the risks of suicides increased as a result of taking antidepressants and the measures taken to reduce this problem.

Are anti-depressants a medication or a mental steroid?” (Kramer). For many years there has been an ongoing talk about anti-depressants. The big question is, are they really a cure for depression or just a mental steroid. An anti-depressant is a medication used to treat depression and other anxiety disorders. When proscribed to children and teens there can be severe side effects such as an increased chance to commit suicide or have suicidal thoughts or actions. This risk of suicide is higher for people under the age of 25. (Mayo Clinic Staff). Teenage usage of anti-depressants has been a controversial issue for many decades.

The side effects of antidepressants include nausea, insomnia, anxiety, decreased sex drive, sweating, tremors, diarrhea, fatigue,

The cause of Clinical depression has long been a mystery to physicians and researchers. Many different theories have been proposed, but no conclusive evidence has been put forth. However, most of what we know about depression stems from the results of certain drugs which have been successful in treating the clinically depressed. These anti--depressants have led to the assumption that depression is most likely due to a chemical imbalance (of neurotransmitters) which somehow leads to the symptoms of depression. To try and write a paper on all the theories of depression would be endless, as would be a study on all the different types of

Depression is a serious mental disorder that may be displayed by major episodes of sadness, restlessness, and loss of interest. Depression has several symptoms such as excessive sleep, increased or loss of appetite, aches, cramps, insomnia, and fatigue. It can affect anyone of all ages and may not be recognizable for those who are experiencing it. A medication called anti-depressants helps treat depression by altering the serotonin receptors levels. There are several types of anti-depressant medications such as Abilify, Celexa, Aplenzin, Asendin, and many more. There are individuals that may argue that anti-depressants are an over-prescribed medications. They believe that this medication can affect the patient’s mental status and inhibit self-control with this addictive drug. On the other hand, the opposition may argue that anti-depressants are not overly prescribed and that it should not be problematic because it is an accessible, helpful, and a quicker treatment. The debate of whether anti-depressants are an over-prescribed medication has been an ongoing controversial issue as evidenced by statements of supporters and those in opposition.

Common types of medication include POM (prescription only medication) which can be obtained from a pharmacist only if prescribed by a doctor. These could include anti-depressants which are very common. Anti-depressants work by selecting receptors in the brain and controls levels of serotonin. They come under the group 'SSRIS' (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors). Over the counter medicines (OTC) may include things like paracetamol or ibuprofen, which are everyday painkillers. Something like paracetamol inhibits the production of pain and inflammation-causing chemicals called prostaglandins.

Depression affects everyone's life at sometime or another. Depression comes in a wide variety of forms, from mild unhappiness to a chemical imbalance in the mind. There are many different symptoms that reveal a person's problem with depression. If left untreated, depression may continue to develop into a serious illness or even death.

“Suicide of any kind is an act in which a person takes his or her own life. FACT: Suicide is a prevalent cause of death among America’s youth today.Each and every day almost 1000 teenagers think about suicide and about 0.018% of them will be successful in committing it.” It is an ongoing problem that is often described as uncalled for immature and unnecessary. But having a deeper understanding and better knowledge are some key factors for preventing teenage suicide. This “problem” most likely start because of a state of depression, and it can be either a medical concern, or just because of a saddened point in a person’s life. Point is, suicide among adolescents is not uncommon, and it can be preventable with the proper approach and

In the present, it seems that the number of youths that are depressed, hurting themselves and thinking suicidal thoughts are increasing. Youth suicide has slowly been crawling its way up the cause of death list and is now the third leading cause of death in youth

Adolescence is a challenging period of life, when individuals undergo major physical and psychological changes between the ages of 10 and 19. This period is accompanied by many needs, all of which contribute to increased risk-taking in youth, such as suicidal behaviors. Suicide is the third leading cause of death for youth between the ages of 10 and 24 in the United States (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2014). Among this same age group, suicide accounts for 20% of all deaths annually. In a 2011 nationally representative sample of high school students, 15.8% of students reported that they had seriously considered attempting suicide during the last year, 12.8% reported that they made a plan about how they would attempt suicide, 7.8% reported that they had attempted suicide at least once, and 2.4% of students reported that they made a suicide attempt that required medical attention (CDC, 2012a). For every completed suicide among youth between the ages of 15 and 24, there are about 100-200 suicide attempts (Goldsmith et al., 2002).