SSRIs

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (from monstersandcritics.com) present fewer side effects than their predecessors less likely to be lethal even in large quantities (important for someone who may be suicidal) the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) wants SSRI dosage minimized to decrease risk of overdosage and close monitoring of younger patients on the drug suicide rates overall have declined since SSRI market introduction side effects ma include insomnia, rashes, headaches, joint and muscle pain, upset stomach, nausea or diarrhea mixed with painkillers, SSRIs can pave the way for stomach or uterine bleeding In the Hindustan Times, an article ran on a girl who committeed suicide because she had not received the grades she had hoped on a test. One highlight (if you can consider it that) of reading world news is that they'll report local suicides more often than U.S. media. The HT story reminds me that there is no excuse too small or too big for people to commit suicide. Indian focus recently has been on eliminating suicide scenes from films to prevent copycat cases. In one incident, a mother dragged her four kids out o the train tracks to die with her. Two of them were able to escape and survive before a train pummeled the rest of the family to death. Ireland is also tackling suicide - they've set a 20 percent reduction target by the year 2016. A published report notes that suicide rates are rising in males younger than 35 and in females under 25. Wisconsin is battling youth suicide, much like Ireland, and hopes to reduce its current rate of one young adult committing suicide per week by 10 percent. No time frame for the reduction has been set. An anti-seizure drug, Neurontin, is being blamed for nearly 300 suicides nationwide. It is the best-selling anticonvulsant medicine in the U.S. and Pfizer - Neurontin's maker - posted profits of more than $2.6 billion in 2004. The FDA has not pushed to have Neurontin taken off the market, but in 2005, simply ordered a review. The results have never been made public as of today. A man who killed himself after bieng turned away from the hospital has drawn worldwide attention to the inadequacies of Australia's mental health system. Although I'm sure similar events have occured in the U.S., it likely does not get widespread coverage.