Monday, December 26, 2011

Colleges and suicide threats: when to call home?

Colleges and suicide threats: when to call home?

The email that arrived at Virginia Tech's health center in November 2007 was detailed and unmistakably ominous. It concerned a Tech senior named Daniel Kim and came from an acquaintance at another college.

"Daniel has been acting very suicidal recently, purchasing a $200 pistol, and claiming he'll go through with it," the email read, adding details of a reported previous suicide attempt with pills. "This is not a joke."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

TONY DIGIROLAMO- THIS IS A TRAGEDY NO DOUBT ... BUT I CAN'T FIND IT IN THE WRITING HERE THAT ANYONE CONSIDERS THE FACT THAT MEDICATION MAY BE THE UNDERLYING MENACE.

Young people today have gone through the public school systems and many are on Ritalin and antidepressants, psychotropic drugs.

Some are just taking these drugs because they've been told it will them to focus and concentrate.

But has anyone read the side affects of these drugs before taking SSRI's?

Here it is:

Antidepressant medication and suicide risk

There is a danger that, in some people, antidepressant treatment will cause an increase, rather than a decrease, in depression—and with it, an increased risk of suicide. While this is particularly true of children and young adults on antidepressant medication, anyone taking antidepressants should be closely watched for suicidal thoughts and behaviors. The suicide risk is particularly great during the first one to two months of antidepressant treatment.

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