Suicide prevention funding protested

Littleton Independent, Colorado/July 20, 2006
By Betsy Levinson

Kevin Hall, New England director of CCHR, said the screening that is done in schools is subjective and can lead to placing students on drugs unnecessarily. But he takes that reasoning further, saying that the drug companies stand to benefit from increased prescription drug use and promote the screening.

Hall said the program "Signs of Suicide" is funded by a Wellesley company, Screening for Mental Health, Inc. that in turn receives funds from Eli Lilly & Co., Forest Laboratories, Inc., GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer Inc., and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals.

In Littleton, the See a New Sun Foundation sponsored the suicide-prevention program at the high school last spring. The program involved screening for depression as well as a lecture that alerted students to the signs of depression among their friends that might lead to thoughts of suicide.

LHS Principal John Buckey defended the program.

"Safety in terms of the health and well-being of our students is the top concern among Littleton High School's faculty and staff," said Buckey. "The programs we have offered to students in the past addressing suicide and depression were focused on helping students dealing with depression feel less isolated, and enabling their peers to better detect the warning signs exhibited by those having suicidal thoughts."

He said there were two suicide awareness programs for freshmen and seniors.

"The presentation for seniors included Littleton High School alumnae who were completing an extensive nursing program at University of Massachusetts, which included a community outreach component. Their professionalism and contributions to our school community cannot be overstated.," said Buckey.

"SOS does not receive funding from pharmaceutical companies," said SANS board member Sharon. "Funding is from registration fees and grants from federal, state and foundations."

"The screening is a marketing tool for the drug companies," said Hall. "Our goal is to make parents in the town aware that when they do mental health screening, what they are doing is funding a giant child psychiatric drugging industry."

He said eight million young people are currently taking daily prescription drugs for attention deficit disorder and other behavioral conditions.

"Anti-depressants don't cure anything," said Hall. "In fact, the drugs can cover up the symptoms and cause suicidality."

"There is absolutely no mention whatsoever of anti-depressant medication in the suicide prevention program presented in Littleton High School," said SANS director Don Lawrence. "Furthermore, the SANS Foundation has no connection, neither fiscally nor professionally, with any pharmaceutical companies."

He said the SOS program was met with appreciation at LHS for addressing a difficult subject in a sensitive, forthright manner.

"Littleton citizens, parents, and school administrators are performing a critically important service to the young adults of Littleton by exposing them to the Signs Of Suicide (SOS) Program," said Lawrence. "The United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC) states that, 'More teenagers and young adults die from suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, and chronic lung disease combined.'"