Is the percentage of suicides small enough to justify the continued marketing of antidepressants?

[nycaypeh]

No matter how vigorously the pharmaceutical manufacturers defend their products, one conclusion is inescapable: Some people who ingest antidepressants become suicidal. Is the percentage of suicides small enough to justify the continued marketing of antidepressants?

[gatita]

Whether or not some people become suicidal as a result of antidepressants is immaterial due to the high rate of suicides worldwide. In this case the good far our weighs the bad. The number of suicides worldwide is staggering.

Every year, almost one million people die from suicide; a "global" mortality rate of 16 per 100,000, or one death every 40 seconds.
In the last 45 years suicide rates have increased by 60% worldwide. Suicide is among the three leading causes of death among those aged 15-44 years in some countries, and the second leading cause of death in the 10-24 years age group; these figures do not include suicide attempts which are up to 20 times more frequent than completed suicide.
Suicide worldwide is estimated to represent 1.8% of the total global burden of disease in 1998, and 2.4% in countries with market and former socialist economies in 2020.
Although traditionally suicide rates have been highest among the male elderly, rates among young people have been increasing to such an extent that they are now the group at highest risk in a third of countries, in both developed and developing countries.
Mental disorders (particularly depression and alcohol use disorders) are a major risk factor for suicide in Europe and North America; however, in Asian countries impulsiveness plays an important role. Suicide is complex with psychological, social, biological, cultural and environmental factors involved.

gatita

Baptized in Jesus Name, according to Acts 2:38

My faith in the One who died for me

Degree in History (focus Jewish studies) and Spanish, New Mexico State U. 1990