2nd Teen Depression Article

Teen Depression

Gathering Information- Notes

Docksai, Rick. "Youth Depression and Suicide." Futurist Vol. 43, No. 1. Jan/Feb 2009: 16-17. SIRS Researcher. Web. 24 Sep 2010.

·         “The study finds that suicides of Americans under 20 years old rose 18% between 2003 and 2004—the largest single-year increase in more than 15 years.”(pg.16-17)

·         The increase in suicide led the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to add a public warning label on all antidepressants that informed the public that the medications might trigger suicidality.

·         Even after the warning label was established, all drug companies were ordered to “black-box,” or state the risks and warn doctors to keep careful observation on their patients, while prescribed antidepressants

·         The agency that ordered the warning labels on the products simply said that cautions were used to, “fully inform doctors about the risks and benefits of antidepressants, not to discourage appropriate prescribing.”(pg. 16-17)

·         But, after the cautions went public, some doctors felt as if the people who were prescribe the antidepressants weren’t taking them due to the black – box label.

·         Due to the parents’ hesitation, children were not getting the correct help that they needed, which could lead to the risk of more suicide.

·         “According to FDA data, a young person suffering from depression is 15% more likely to commit suicide then peers not suffering from suicide.” (pg.16-17)

·         Doctors began to publicly speak to patients about the antidepressants and how they’re perfectly fine to take when prescribed the right amount.

·         After all the trouble doctors were receiving due to the warnings, the FDA still expanded the warning to all patients less than 24 years of age.

·         Doctors still supported the label even though they caused much panic to patients and parents throughout, they agreed that the label was to help patients, parents, and doctors alike.