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Helpguide.org Offers Resources for Making Informed Choices About Anti-Depressant Medications
Added: (Wed Nov 17 2004)
Earlier this year, the FDA asked manufacturers of ten anti-depressant medications to include a warning statement on their labels that “recommends close observation of adult and pediatric patients treated with these agents for worsening depression or the emergence of suicidality.” Considering that in 2003, an estimated 124 million prescriptions were written for antidepressant medications, it is important that patients educate themselves about the efficacy of these medications, possible side effects and what other types of treatment are available.
Helpguide.org offers valuable non-commercial information on these topics in a newly expanded article entitled, “Medications for Treating Depression and Anxiety: Making Informed Choices.”
Helpguide founders, Robert and Jeanne Segal, know the importance of educating the public on mental health. After the tragic suicide of their daughter Morgan, several people approached them and shared similar experiences of relatives who attempted or committed suicide. "The pain was so evident — the subject so frightening, hidden, and loaded with stigma," says Segal, "that they don't know where to turn." The Segals believe that if they and Morgan had known about the many resources now available on Helpguide, her life might have had a very different outcome. The couple concluded that the best way to honor the memory of their daughter was through a project that would help people in similar trouble by guiding them toward appropriate information and care.
Written by a consortium of mental health professionals, “Medications for Treating Depression and Anxiety: Making Informed Choices” summarizes essential information that the public should know about anti-depressant medications including: what they are, how they work, potential benefits and consequences, alternatives, and the controversies surrounding them. A thorough selection of additional non-commercial online resources is provided. Helpguide also provides articles on depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and other mental health topics.
For additional information, visit www.helpguide.org.
About Helpguide.org
Helpguide.org is a project of the Santa Monica Rotary Club and Center for Healthy Aging. The website is a trusted resource on topics of mental health and lifelong wellness and welcomes thousands of worldwide visitors each day.