“Experts said the hope is to eventually be able to predict which people with depression are likely to benefit from a drug — and which people would fare better with a different option.”
-Norton, A.; HealthDay News 9/18/2014
September marks Suicide Awareness Month and the MISSD Team will once again be participating in the Out of the Darkness Chicago Walk, put on by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)! The walk will take place at Grant Park on Saturday, September 20th, 2014! We are looking forward to raising more awareness about our organization and supporting other suicide prevention related organizations. For more information about this walk, you can visit http://afsp.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.event&eventID=2579.
September marks Suicide Awareness Month and The Medication-Induced Suicide Education Foundation in Memory of Stewart Dolin (MISSD) will hold its 2nd Annual Fundraising Event.
The event is on Thursday, September 4, 2014, from 6:30 pm- 9:30 pm, at Park West, 322 West Armitage Avenue, Chicago, Illinois. The evening will be educational, but fun-filled with appetizers, cocktails and raffles. Tickets are $50 (35 years and under) or $125 (36 years and over). To purchase tickets please go to missd.eventbrite.com.
Two years ago, MISSD was founded in Stewart Dolin’s memory to raise awareness and educate the public about the dangers of medication-induced suicide and akathisia. MISSD is not an anti-drug organization, rather we look to raise awareness about potential side effects and better monitoring of patients who have recently started or stopped a medication, specifically a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) medication.
MISSD has made many strides towards reaching these objectives by reaching out to the public by attending and participating in related conferences and walks, developing a brochure and more. We are in the midst of putting together an educational presentation to present at schools, hospitals, and other related venues.
To learn more about our organization, please visit www.missd.co.
On May 27, 2014, MISSD founder Wendy Dolin was featured on NBC Chicago, discussing akathisia and generic drugs:
This article reflects upon the increase of military suicides. It states that 30% of military personnel who kill themselves have never been deployed and that 60% have not seen combat. This gives some leading suspicion that the excessive drug distribution to military personnel is what is in fact causing these suicides.
This article discusses the dangers of giving a Malaria drug called Lariam. This drug has been linked to several crimes and other acts of extreme violence. These side effects can last up to weeks, months, or even years. Both medical and military authorities say this drug should not be given to people that suffer from depression or anxiety, however this drug is often given to many military personnel who suffer from these symptoms. Although this medication is black boxed, the problem still continues as these drugs are regularly being distributed all over the US today without a prior screening of mental health status.
Another video from Fox News reported Douglas Kennedy discussing the over-medicating of returning war vets.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w70h_UhuKIw
In the journal A Bitter Pill, Evelyn Pringle, an investigative journalist and a columnist for independent media and television reports the connection between akathisia and suicide. As the article states, “Akathisia is up to 6 times more likely to trigger a suicide than any form of depression caused by life’s circumstances alone.”
Martha Rosenberg, author of Born With a Junk Food Deficiency and speaker at the inaugural MISSD event, is concerned about the over-medication of the troops and suicide.