Reply #4: Well, several studies have already shown rather conclusively [View All]

that there IS a suicide side effect with SSRI's (particularly with teens, where meta analyses have also shown limited to no efficacy when compared with placebos and/or talk therapy).

This is sometimes explained via the "activation effect," whereby the depressed patient suddenly has the energy to act on their dark thoughts. The risk is exacerbated by poor monitoring by providers, who often aren't trained in psychiatry- and where patients aren't concurrently receiving an appropriate talk regimine, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, that deals with those underlyng thoughts, potential trauma, and feelings.

Anti-depressants aren't magic bullets. They need to be prescribed with caution, and not simply handed out like candy (often in the form of free samples) by GP's. They may work well for some, not so well for others, and for still others, they can be a disaster- inducing hypomania or even a full blown manic episode, resulting is a significantly worse long term prognosis.