Title: 
Risks of Antidepressant Medications for Suicidal Teenagers

Word Count:
635

Summary:
It is said that depression causes most teenage suicides in the 

United States. However, antidepressant medications are readily 

available in the market. Though antidepressants are said to be of 

help to these teenagers, various reports tell otherwise. This 

article provides information about certain antidepressant 

medications that double the suicidal risks for teenagers.


Keywords:
antidepressant medications


Article Body:
An alarming truth: thousands of teenagers, both girls and boys, 

are at risk for suicide. Though many do not recognize suicide as a 

serious threat to a teenager's well-being, teen suicide is now 

considered a major cause of death among American teenagers. 

According to the National Institute for Mental Health (NIMH), 

about 8 of every 100,000 teenagers committed suicide in 2000. 

Experts estimate that for every teen suicide death, there are at 

least 10 other teen suicide attempts. They also found out that 

almost 1 in 5 teens had thoughts about suicide. About 1 in 6 teens 

made plans on committing suicide and more that 1 in 12 teens had 

attempted suicide in the last year. As many as 8 out of 10 teens 

who commit suicide try to ask for help in some way before 

committing suicide, such as by seeing a doctor shortly before the 

suicide attempt. 
It is said that depression causes most teenage suicides in the 

United States. It is depression that leads people to focus mostly 

on failures and disappointments; emphasize the negative side of 

their situations; and downplay their own capabilities or sense of 

self-worth. 
Depression or depressive disorders (unipolar depression) are 

mental illnesses characterized by a profound and persistent 

feeling of sadness or despair. Depressed persons are not 

interested anymore in things that were once pleasurable. 

Difficulty in sleeping, loss of appetite, significant weight loss, 

and difficulty in making decisions are common signs of depression. 

A teen with depression may feel like there’s no other way out of 

problems, no other escape from emotional pain, or no other way to 

communicate their desperate sadness. For that reason, many teens 

who think of or actually attempt to commit suicide feel like it is 

the only way to get their message across.
To address cases of suicide attempts and other depressive 

disorders, the medical community has resorted to the prescription 

of antidepressant medications.. With the help of these 

medications, most people can achieve significant recovery from 

depression...at least, that is what these drugs are supposed to 

do.
However, according to recent research, certain widely used 

antidepressant medications may double the risk of suicidal 

behavior among teenagers. The research also marked the first time 

the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has acknowledged that these 

drugs can trigger suicidal behavior among patients older than 18. 

The finding comes two years after the FDA ordered a “black box” 

warning on antidepressant medications following the discovery of a 

heightened risk of suicidal behavior among teenagers taking the 

pills.
Depression is so powerful especially to these young individuals 

who find it difficult to cope with the many ins and outs of being 

a teenager. For teens who have additional problems to deal with 

such as living in a violent or abusive environment, a breakup, a 

big fight with a parent, or an unintended pregnancy --- life can 

be overwhelmingly difficult. 
Further, teenagers who feel suicidal may not even realize they are 

depressed. They are unaware that it is depression and that their 

situation has made them see or believe that “there’s no way out.” 
Counselors and therapists can provide emotional support and can 

help teens build their own coping skills for dealing with 

problems.  While there are many cases where teenagers and adults 

actually need a prescription for antidepressant medications, these 

situations must be thoroughly examined by a doctor or health 

professional. Only qualified medical or health practitioners 

should decide whether a a certain patient needs medication or not. 

 
Constant communication, guidance and abundant love from the 

immediate family is of major importance in dealing with a 

teenager's suicide thoughts. It can also help to join a support 

network for people who are going through the same problems. When 

depression lifts because a teenager gets the proper therapy or 

treatment, the distorted thinking is cleared. In time, the 

teenager can find pleasure, energy, and hope again.


