Teenagers Are More Likely To Commit Suicide Than Adults

Certain antidepressants led patients to have more suicidal thoughts and attempts. The antidepressant, Effexor, was linked to increased suicide attempts and thoughts (Cheng). An example would be, a patient in a group study got into an argument with her mother and attempted to overdose on Paxil and Effexor (Carey). Experts argue that antidepressants have little to no effect on patients anyway. If they do happen to work, antidepressants help those who truly need them, but as stated earlier, misdiagnosis can cause worse symptoms and

Parents and doctors are scared to give children who are depressed, antidepressants according to Richard Friedman in the article “Teenagers, Medication and Suicide.” The F.D.A. put out warnings on taking antidepressants. Out of the 90 percent of people who commit suicide, they could be diagnosed or could possibly be treated.

However, adults have speculated that when teenagers or youth in general seek help for a mental illness and then therefore receive antidepressants or a similar drug to take, the medication is what actually causes the suicide attempt. On any antidepressant, there is a warning on the label that states “May cause suicidal thoughts” (Bichell). There are many different types of medication under the antidepressant category, and I speak from experience when I say that one type of antidepressant medication may affect you differently than another person. A doctor may speak with the recipient of the medication and warn them to notify someone close to them that they are on the medication to watch for changes in activity, personality, etc. that show signs of possible suicidal activity. Through monitoring and the person on the medication making their thoughts know, this risk of suicide from anti-depressants or other medication should disperse. A major component of keeping control of suicidal activity requires a close family member or friend to be a part of an individual 's life...but what if

Individuals taking tricyclic antidepressants (TCA) for major depression sometimes use these same drugs to attempt suicide. Unresolved depression can lead to individuals taking further drastic measures to deal with their emotional dissatisfaction. While TCA’s may not always be the most lethal drugs, an overdose can still have life threatening consequences. Following overdose of TCA’s, early identification of predictive symptoms for life endangering seizures and ventricular arrhythmias could allow healthcare providers the opportunity to take preventative measures and thus save lives.

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.

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

Reviews of research on psychotherapy versus antidepressants with evidence supported methods were used. WebPages along with the reading of numerous studies

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

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

There are three kinds of drugs to decrease the symptoms of depression MAO inhibitors, tricyclic and SSRIs. Clinicians use what “maintenance therapy” where the patient are on the drugs for around five months after depression symptoms go away (Comer, 2014). For substance abuse treatment, for example, the methadone program works for many people. Looking for behavioral therapist to help with different approaches to help depressed client connect pleasure and happiness to creating activities to personally reward themselves and not keep people at a distance anymore. Psychodynamic treatments has the same procedures for depressed clients as they would with others. The free interpretation of individual’s information obtained through therapy as basis for free association. The use of cognitive therapy helps depressed individuals to practice various behavioral techniques. The sociocultural view shows that interpersonal psychotherapy is important in all areas such role transition, couples therapy and other life changing events in which need treatment. In substance abuse, learning to become a productive member of society changes addiction and recovery happens. Bipolar treatment includes mood stabilizers, like lithium, the drugs shape synaptic activity in the brain. In any mood or substance disorder, those who are suicidal may need to be in a treatment center for observation. Teaching learning

Major depressive disorder affects nearly 15 million of American adults in a given year. (Kessler, Chiu, Demler & Walters, 2005). With the impact it has on the society as well as the well-being of the individual, it must be in the interest of the healthcare to be able to provide patients with the most effective treatment method. Extensive research has been conducted on the efficacy of antidepressant medication and cognitive therapy, the two main treatment methods used for depression today. The discussion has, however, been characterized by conflicting claims, resulting in a debate over what should be used rather than us having definite conclusion of how patients are best helped.

Not only may medications be less effective than therapy, medication can have serious side effects that can make them dangerous, especially in children. “The link between antidepressants and suicide rates among children and adolescents is a very serious issue that both Congress and the FDA are investigating” (Davis). Medication meant to help with serious depression cannot be considered beneficial if it causes the patient to consider

As the literature remains inconclusive as to the relation between current major treatment modalities and depressive disorder, and given the extremities of the potential dangers of antidepressant medications, it is apparent that there is a need to develop new interventions, which show greater efficacy, safety, and acceptability.

Today’s teenagers are faced with the ever changing world around them and the biological changes of their bodies. Many teens are also faced with depression. Approximately half of teenagers with untreated depression may attempt suicide, which remains the third leading cause of death in this age group. (Bostic). This depression affects their school, family lives, and robs them of their self image. Depression affects many teens and often goes by unnoticed and untreated.

A young person dying for any reason is a tragedy, so when a teenager takes his or her own life due to frustrations, hopelessness, or loss of self-worth, it is completely devastating. Young people today are having to grow up in a world with high stress levels, confusion, discouragement, and pain; sometimes it is just too hard for them to handle. Perhaps it is not surprising that teenage suicide is becoming increasingly more common. Suicide has become the third leading causing of death in adolescents today. All around the world teenagers are attempting to take, or successfully taking, their own lives for many reasons, including forms of content on the Internet. A story published in The Ledger written by Stephanie Allie demonstrates how this, unfortunately, happened to be true for 12 year old, Rebecca Sedwick. On the morning of September 9th, 2013, instead of getting on the school bus, Rebecca walked to an abandoned cement plant. The 12 year old climbed to the top of a silo and jumped off, killing herself instantly. Later, Rebecca’s mother, Traci, told police that her daughter had been bullied by a group of middle school girls. Further investigation showed that for over a year, Rebecca received hateful text messages and Facebook posts from these girls, harassing, taunting, and humiliating her. Some of the messages went as far as telling Rebecca to endure bodily harm, and that she did not deserve to live. The girls treated Rebecca horribly all because she started dating someone