We wanted to share a powerful story we received all the way from Australia. Maria found MISSD’s website and reached out to us. We are so grateful our message has reached international attention and hope these stories will further our efforts of raising awareness. Thank you, Maria, for writing in to MISSD.
Hi MISSD,
We lost my brother (50yrs old) last year in 2017, in a similar circumstance to Stewart Dolin. Unfortunately the Coroner does not understand the link between the medication that was increased the day before my brother died.
My brother was a popular and successful husband and father of 2 boys who took pride in his health. He went to a Dr (general practitioner – GP) due to stress from his work who prescribed an anti-depressant and 9 days later he tragically took his life.
He had difficulty sleeping, became more agitated and restless and developed suicidal thoughts 2 days before he died. A psychologist and another GP (at the same medical practice as the original GP) did not recognise his symptoms but instead recommended the dose of his antidepressant be increased.
Despite knowing he had been researching ways to kill himself he was sent home to his wife and boys. No one told him not to go to work despite his behaviour and he tragically took his life the next morning at his workplace.
I work in health care and cannot understand that our mental health system is so inadequate and the dangers of SSRI antidepressants are not recognised. For anxiety and work-related stress to cause you to take your own life just does not make sense. Further, my brother did not have thoughts of self-harm until days after commencing the medication however no one recognised that this could be due to his medication not worsening illness.
Thank you for you great work and I was so pleased to read that someone has been able to fight a pharmaceutical company for damages with success. Glad someone is exposing this terrible side effect and you have gained some power for the vulnerable people who need advocacy.
Kind regards,
Maria Boyle