Teen Suicide and Anti-Depressants:

The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) is finally considering stronger warning labels on anti-depressants after acknowledging for the first time that the drugs appear to lead some children and teenagers to suicide.

For a year, the agency suppressed those conclusions made by its own drug safety analyst.

The FDA has admitted that children and teens who take anti-depressants are more likely to have suicidal thoughts and behavior than children taking a placebo. The FDA finally reached that conclusion after independent experts agreed with the agency’s own scientists.

FDA spokesperson Dr. Robert Temple said, “We thought and have thought all along that it is extremely important to get as right an answer on this as we can.”

According to their findings, the worst offenders are Effexor, Luvox and Paxil, but even Prozac, the only anti-depressant specifically approved for young people can increase suicidal tendencies.

Family members of children and teens, who completed suicide while on one of the drugs, say they were never told about the risks.

Tom Woodward’s 17 year old daughter, Julie, hanged herself while taking Zoloft for just seven days.

Julie’s father Tom said, “So many people even today are being prescribed these drugs and told it’s safe……it’s not….benefits are oversold.”

The FDA will consider requiring stronger warning labels and other measures for 9 anti-depressants. Meanwhile, some in Congress are calling on the drug companies to provide more details about pediatric clinical trials.

The British virtually banned the use of most anti-depressants for children late last year.

But, some are urging the FDA not to do away with all anti-depressants, saying that have also reduced suicides among depressed youth.

~Article taken from ABC, Eyewitness News. www.abc7.com

Stats:

Did you know in Canada………

In Alberta, approximately 4 people die every 3 days, from suicide.

Cause of death
Suicide is the second leading cause of death for youth aged 10-24 following motor vehicle death.

Numbers
Each year on average 294 youth commit suicide. In 1992, approximately 18 times this number (over 5200) were hospitalized for suicide attempts. Some estimates suggest attempts may outnumber suicides by as much as 100 to 1.

Methods
The most common methods of youth suicide between 1993-1997 were: 1) hanging 2) firearms, and 3) motor vehicle exhaust gases. The most common methods used in attempts were drug overdose or poisoning.

How does Canada compare?
According to the United Nations report, the Progress of Nations 1994, Canadian youth aged 15-19 ranked third highest in suicide rate of 23 countries after New Zealand and Finland. The US ranked fifth. Over the last two decades, most industrialized countries have seen the rate of adolescent suicide holding steady or increasing.

“A suicide attempt is serious. Persons with prior suicidal behavior are at 40 times greater risk of suicide than the general population.”

LivingWorks Education, 1997

Do Male and Female Youth Differ in Suicidal Behavior?

Completions: Males of all ages complete suicide 3 to 5 times more often than females.

Attempts: Youth attempts are at a higher rate than the general population. Adolescent females are 4 to 7 times more likely to attempt suicide than adolescent males. 

Methods: Males typically use more lethal methods such as firearms to attempt suicide. Females are more likely to use drugs, poison, or gases. The latter methods often require more time to take effect and may increase opportunities for intervention. Regardless of the method, both equally want to end the pain they are feeling.

Help-seeking: Studies show a significant percentage of adolescents contemplate, plan and/or attempt suicide without seeking or receiving help. Males are less likely than females to seek help from any source.