Suicides Antidepressants 09/12/2009 Florida Suicides Increased in Wakulla County: Many Were on Antidepressant: Not Related to Economic Slump Summary:

First paragraph reads:   "Suicide is one of Florida's top 10 leading causes of death. Wakulla County deputies say so far in 2009, there have been six completed suicides. This is a drastic increase from the average of two a year."

Paragraph three reads: ""Authorities say many of the people who committed suicide were on some sort of anti-depressant medication. And none of these suicides have been linked to America's economic slump."


http://www.wctv.tv/news/headlines/78815462.html

Suicides Up in Wakulla Co.; NAMI Discusses Prevention
Over the past year Wakulla County sheriff's deputies have seen a spike in suicides. Now concerned community members are coming together to fight the stigma and prevent future incidents
Posted: 6:04 PM Dec 8, 2009
Reporter: Tara Herrschaft
Email Address: tara.herrschaft@wctv.tv
[]  Suicides Up in Wakulla Co.; NAMI Discusses Prevention

Suicide is one of Florida's top 10 leading causes of death. Wakulla County deputies say so far in 2009, there have been six completed suicides. This is a drastic increase from the average of two a year.

"Everyone of those were stand alone. There was no commonality other than everybody that completed an act of suicide in the county had talked about before doing it to people that were close to them," said Detective Bruce Ashley with the Wakulla County Sheriff's Office.

Authorities say many of the people who committed suicide were on some sort of anti-depressant medication. And none of these suicides have been linked to America's economic slump.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness Wakulla called upon leaders in Florida and the community to discuss suicide prevention and how to bring awareness to the topic.

"I had a family member, a young man who was undiagnosed. I think the family probably knew there was mental health issues involved, but I think the stigma prevents that generation perhaps from recognizing and seeking treatment," said Joanne Burgess, who works for the Advocacy Center for Persons with Disabilities.

"We've started out dealing with physical illness and many of which historically were somewhat shameful to talk about. But then over the years as we became more educated we started to have success in preventing a lot of these illnesses and the same applies to mental illness," said Frank Zenere, a psychologist with the Miami-Dade County School Crisis Management Program.

Experts say encouraging everyone, especially young people, to talk about it and identify signs is a good start to ending the stigma surrounding mental illness and suicide.

For suicide prevention tips and information about suicide click on one of the links below.