Suicide rates up among US teens
Categories: Teens & tweens, Health & safety, Medical conditions, Development, In the news, Playground bureau, Environment
Suicide rates among the nation's youth continue to climb. Many experts fear the reason for this is due to fewer antidepressants being prescribed. After a fifteen-year decline the rates are climbing--what was seen as a possibly random increase in 2004 was repeated in 2005. The outcome of the study of 2004 and 2005 tracked outcomes based on actual instances from 1996 through 2003. After more than a decade of decline, suicide rates among those from 10-19 years of age skyrocketed by 18% in 2004, the largest increase in a one-year time period over fifteen years. Researcher Jeff Bridge feels, based on this study, that we could be on the verge of a public health crisis.
Bridges sites possible reasons for the increase, including online and social networking as well as returning from deployment overseas in Iraq along with the controversy over giving youth antidepressants. In a 2003 a public health advisory was issued noting children who were prescribed SSRIs, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, were more likely to attempt suicide or engage in suicidal behavior. The result was the black box information on such medicines as well as doctors being less confident in prescribing them. In another study, however, Bridge noted that such treatment could be beneficial for children in the short-term.
According to Diana Zuckerman, National Research Center for Women & Families, children may be more likely to attempt suicide now due to the lagging economy, the stress of not having enough money for college and because those with depression go undiagnosed. She also noted a factor could be that families aren't spending enough time together.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
SharpestLives 9-06-2008 @ 6:27PM
This doesn't see to surprise me or anyone. Everyday some one is killing themselves. And everyday the world is shrinking. We are just too much for this world. Too many immigrants are taking over america (us). We need to do something "but will we". The fact is "no we will not do anything at all". It seems we don't do anything because everything is always about being racist or sexist or just plain ol' stupid. Everyone judges too much and everyone has their owne opinions. Just let everyone live their lives. Another reason this doesn't amaze me or anyone probably is because teens just aren't interested anymore. Everything is made so boring for them, and as time goes by everyday it just gets worse for the younger group of americans that live. I mean no wonder. Common sense people common sense. I think also it has to do with who they hang out with and what type of parents they have. Parents have a huge huge huge / massive impact on how their children/teens grow up and become the people they are today. So lets all think about our kids/your kids.
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cinabonspice 9-16-2008 @ 2:47AM
omg..here we go again. ok there is obviously something going on in the head again that is why they are killing themselves. not because of the dang medications.
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