Hard times and depression are familiar bedfellows. Losing a job, the home, and their financial security have cast a gloom over many Americans with the recent economic downturn. Unfortunately, a number of these
cases resulted in suicide.
Statistical data show that suicide and the economy are tightly connected. Major downturns in the U.S economy had resulted in higher suicide rate. These include the Great Depression in the early 30s and the end of the New Deal toward the end of the decade, the Middle East oil crisis in the 70s and the recession in the early 80s. Inversely, the suicide rate decreases during economically prosperous times.
In 2007, 11.3 in 100,000 Americans died of suicide, making it the tenth leading cause of death. Experts claimed that the rate is likely to increase in 2012 through 2016. This is based on the suicide outcome in Japan following the nations severe economic slump. A similar outcome is likely to result as the pangs of recession continue to pervade in the lives of many Americans. Economic stressors are known to cast their depressive gloom that may result in suicide.
A mental disorder, substance abuse, suicide or violence in the family are also predisposing factors. Anyone who has attempted suicide is likely to commit it again. A major risk factor to suicide death is a prior suicide attempt. There is no single treatment that applies to all suicidal patients. Drug medication, talk therapy or a combination of the two are the most common treatments.
Cognitive and behavioral forms of therapy are meant to ease the patients mind off suicidal thoughts and focus them instead on other solutions. They also help patients see and think of themselves and the world in a positive light. Behavioral methods that help alleviate the patients feelings of depression and anxiety, and to help him cope with social pressure and inhibitions include personality development, problem-solving, interaction skills, and muscle relaxation.
Antidepressant medication acts on chemical pathways of the brain related to mood. The more popular types are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs). Taking antidepressants should be under monitoring by a doctor to make sure that the best treatment with the fewest side effects is prescribed. There are drugs that react negatively to other medications or substance ingested and may cause more harm than good.
Pregnant women taking antidepressants expose their babies to certain risks at birth. A health advisory had been released by The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Paxil, one of the drugs that carry certain risks to the baby. Paxil birth defects lawsuit have claimed the real and potential risks that pregnant women encounter with the drug.
