Is the Decrease in Antidepressant Use Related to the Increase in Suicides?

The Black Box warning by the FDA was implemented in early 2005. However, beginning in 2003 there were many advisories to alert physicians on the increase potential for suicide when antidepressants are initiated.

The recent report of an upswing in suicides, particularly among our young, raises questions as to whether the decreased use of antidepressants has any correlation.

The FDA response is that suicide, as we all know, has a very complex, multi-factorial causation. It is too simplistic to say that one item would make that much of a difference in the number of suicides, particularly among teenagers.

The recommendations for decreasing suicides are identified below:

• The Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act was passed by Congress and signed by the President, and currently they are funding suicide prevention grants focused on youth from age 10 to 24, the same age group that are the focus of the recent analysis on suicidal increases. These grants are now going to 31 states, seven tribes or tribal organizations, and 55 college campuses. Additionally, there will be a new grant announcement for these programs that will be coming out within the next several months.
• A national suicide prevention lifeline that utilizes a toll free number, 1-800-273-TALK. Anyone who calls this number is connected to one of over 120 local crisis centers around the country. Currently, this network answers over 36,000 calls per month. In addition, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is in efforts to work specifically with youth has been working with social networking sights, because we know that youth are particularly likely to communicate over the Internet and with Web based social networking mechanisms such as MySpace and Facebook.
• A suicide prevention resource center is a resource center around suicide prevention for the nation. Its Web site is www.sprc.org. Anyone is welcome to go to that Web site, get additional information or contact the suicide prevention resource center and to take a look at the variety of suicide prevention resources that are available there.