Preventing suicide with talk?

I am sure everyone has known someone that has been down or clinically depressed in their lifetime. 

Many times you may suggest that person "talk to someone" or get those emotions out. 

But what about those that are suffering from thoughts of suicide or those who have actually tried to die by suicide?

A Danish study that followed participants for 20 years found that "those who received therapy were 27 percent less likely to attempt suicide again" after their first attempt. 

This is very good news because though many of us know that talking about what is troubling us 

can help, this is the first study of its kind to really look into how talk therapy (counseling) really

impacts the rate of further suicide attempts. 

If you know someone who is suicidal please don't just suggest that they go talk to someone. 

Offer yourself and offer this number 1-800-273-8255 or website for further help. 

I personally have known someone that attempted suicide, and have had someone close to me

die by suicide. 

Knowing now there is proof that therapy reduces the likelihood of another attempt makes me feel

much better about my chosen career and being able to help others, not just clients with this in the 

future. 

Tell me have you been impacted by depression or suicide?

Edited March 25, 2022, to correct outdated language in regard to suicide. 

Antipsychotic Use in Foster Children

Original post here

Those that have followed the foster care system in the last decades are likely well aware that a substantial portion of youth are prescribed antipsychotics. In a study on antipsychotic use among Medicaid-Insured Children and Adolescents Burcu, Zito, Ibe, and Safer (2014) found that this use is often off label and for a longer duration than children not Medicaid-insured. As children in foster care are eligible for and more times than not Medicaid-Insured this information is applicable to this population.
Burcu et al. (2014) found that the reasons for antipsychotic use among Medicaid- Insured youth was often for non FDA approved uses (approved uses: schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and irritability associated with autism) such as behavior issues, ADHD, and other disruptive behaviors/ disorders. A quick survey of those children in foster care would likely show that many of these children have one or more of the issues listed above. Burcu et al. also found that Medicaid-Insured youth with externalizing behavior issues were the largest set of youth prescribed antipsychotics medication (2014).

Source:Microsoft Word

The clinical significance of this is the potential risks for long term use. Those risks include: weight gain, risk of diabetes, heart disease, and stroke also referred to as cardiometabolic risk (Burch et al., 2014). Children and youth receiving antipsychotic medications require regular monitoring of the potential risks. It is also of importance to note that long term use in those using this medication for off label use has not been studied.
Those who have experienced trauma and abuse often may experience behavioral symptoms of emotional pain. This is noted because this could be a cause for concern for relatives or foster parents caring for these children who then relay these concerns to primary care physicians. Children in foster care also receive more psychological testing and evaluation that children not in care which can again result in a higher likelihood of psychotropic prescription.

References

Burcu, M., Zito, M.Z., Ibe, A., Safer, D.J. (2014). Atypical antipsychotic use among Medicaid-insured children and adolescents: Duration, safety, and monitoring implications. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, 24 (3), pp. 1-8. doi: 10.1089/cap/2013.0094