Suicide Med for Depression 28/11/2010 California 20 Year Old College Student Kills Self: Wrote in Diary That the Med Was Making Him Suicidal
Suicide Med for Depression 2010-11-28 California 20 Year Old College Student Kills Self: Wrote in Diary That the Med Was Making Him Suicidal
Summary:

Paragraphs 14 through 17 read:  "He was an honor student, an Eagle Scout and captain of several sports teams and never showed any signs of depression until four months before his suicide, his parents said.

He had been studying mechanical engineering, but was considering changing his major, Bob said.

He had broken up with a girlfriend in the months leading up to his death. After seeking counseling for depression, Sean was prescribed anti-depressant drugs.

Following Sean's death, Bob said he discovered that he had written in his diary that the medication seemed to be increasing his suicidal thoughts. The parents urged caution when using anti-depressant drugs with young people, saying more needs to be learned on the subject.



http://www.whittierdailynews.com/news/ci_16729759


Downey family's foundation combats college suicides

By Brian Day, Staff Writer
Posted: 11/28/2010 04:51:39 PM PST

Many parents are welcoming their children home as they return from college for the holidays, but Bob and Joan Feliciano's son, Sean, will never again walk through their front door.

The outgoing 20-year-old junior at UC Santa Barbara took his own life after a short bout with depression while away at school in March of last year, leaving an unfillable void in the hearts and lives of his family.

But less than two years after their devastating loss, Sean's father, a retired sheriff's deputy and law enforcement instructor at Rio Hondo College; his mother, a longtime nurse at Whittier Hospital Medical Center; and his older brother, Chris, are working to keep other families from suffering the same loss through the Sean Vernon Feliciano Amazing Day Foundation.

"Everything we're doing today is for another Sean, another family," Bob said. "Hopefully, through our loss, we can help others."

The name of the nonprofit foundation, which is run from the family home in Downey, comes from Sean's phone message, in which he told callers to "Have an amazing day."

Bob said the foundation seeks to increase awareness of the issue, build partnerships with affected groups, encourage research and save lives, adding that about 1,100 U.S. college students commit suicide each year.

The foundation held a "Walk for Life" in Downey in September of last year which raised about $14,000, Joan said.

The family then presented a $10,000 check to UCSB to fund an intern in the school's mental health services department who will be dedicated to issues of depression and suicide prevention among students in fraternities, Chris, 27, said. Sean belonged to a UCSB fraternity.

Another walk is planned in Downey for Sept.10, 2011, and a 5K run is planned for March at UCSB.

Joan said the family wants to ultimately extend its influence beyond UCSB fraternities and the UC system. "We want to extend it to all kids."

Health Foundation recognized the efforts of Joan and the foundation in giving her one of five Los Angeles County "Hospital Hero Awards" on Nov.5, Whittier Hospital spokesman Jay Geer said.

In addition to his parents and brother in Downey, Sean is also survived by two adult half-sisters.

Bob described his son, who was raised in Downey and graduated from Downey High School in 2006, as a "high achiever."

He was an honor student, an Eagle Scout and captain of several sports teams and never showed any signs of depression until four months before his suicide, his parents said.

He had been studying mechanical engineering, but was considering changing his major, Bob said.

He had broken up with a girlfriend in the months leading up to his death. After seeking counseling for depression, Sean was prescribed anti-

depressant drugs.

Following Sean's death, Bob said he discovered that he had written in his diary that the medication seemed to be increasing his suicidal thoughts. The parents urged caution when using anti-depressant drugs with young people, saying more needs to be learned on the subject.

"That's the kind of research we want to see," Bob said.

To learn more about the Sean Vernon Feliciano Amazing Day Foundation, visit www.amazingdayfoundation.org.

brian.day@sgvn.com