There is a lot of controversy and discussion over this issue amongst professionals, and even how common it is.

We've long known that as people hit bottom in depression, they're often feeling low, listless, and with little to no energy. Although you'd think suicide would be a big thing for someone at this stage, it's usually not a concern. To commit suicide, you need to think about it, you need to have a plan, you need to take some action. People who are seriously depressed usually have little energy or enough concentration to even think about suicide.

The problem is, meds like SSRIs often increase energy levels in folks before they start affecting the depression. So the depressed person is still feeling depressed, but also feels less lethargic and has more energy. This can be a bad combination for some folks, and likely accounts for much of the increased suicide risk for people on SSRIs.

Half the battle is understanding it as a potential and at the first signs of such thoughts, talk to your doctor or therapist about them. And keep talking, don't stop. Often just the process of working through these thoughts is enough to keep them at bay and get past this stage.

SSRIs aren't for everyone, but for most, they are very helpful. Always talk to your doctor, psychiatrists or therapist before making any changes to your medications. Even if you want to stop taking a med, they can help you with the process to ensure it goes smoothly and with the least amount of trouble.

DocJohn