Over the past decade in the United States suicide rates have been declining. Most of this is credited to increased education and outreach, as well as more people accessing treatments for psychological problems like depression. However, a new report has shown a spike in suicides among people under age 20 between 2003-2004. Specifically, there was an 18% increase during that year. Coverage by the Associated Press focused on the potential role of antidepressant medication and decreased funding for prevention programs on the spike.

Antidepressant use among children decreased during the same time period. Data from Verispan show 3 million antidepressant prescriptions were written for kids through age 12 in 2004, down 6.8 percent from 2003. Among 13- to 19-year-olds, the number dropped less than 1 percent to 8.11 million in 2004. Steeper declines in both age groups occurred in 2005, according to the prescription tracking firm.

Funding cuts for school-based suicide prevention programs might have contributed to the apparent rise noted in the new CDC report, said Emory University psychologist Nadine Kaslow. But the rise might not indicate a nationwide trend and needs to be investigated, she said.

Examining things like national suicide rates and explaining the increase are extremely difficult since there are countless variables that may have an influence. However, the trend is clearly unsettling and highlights the need for individuals to educate themselves and their children about the seriousness of the issue and absolutely access treatment when problems develop.

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    Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 10 Feb 2007
    Published on PsychCentral.com. All rights reserved.