Madam, – We are grateful to Kate Holmquist (Weekend Review, October 10th) for addressing many of the grave misgivings raised by psychiatrists and mental health professionals concerning the media coverage of the circumstances of the tragic deaths of Sebastian Creane and Shane Clancy.
A controversial statement has been made about this, both in the print media and on television, namely that antidepressants cause homicide, which we wish to rebut.
There is no scientific evidence whatsoever that antidepressants cause homicide, as has been so definitively stated. This contention is not only inaccurate but it is also potentially dangerous and irresponsible.
First, unfounded claims such as this may cause those with severe depressive illness, who need antidepressants for continuing wellbeing, to discontinue their treatments, with potentially tragic consequences.
Second, it may deter those who need such treatments from coming forward for appropriate help.
Third, this unfounded statement will further stigmatise those with mental illness if individuals taking antidepressants are now feared as potentially dangerous and homicidal. Indeed the reality of prejudice against people with mental health problems has been recently highlighted in a study carried out by St Patrick’s University Hospital.
Finally, it is within the bounds of possibility that the erroneous belief that antidepressants induce aggression and homicide could impact on access disputes in family courts if parents needing such treatments are cast as a danger to their children.
We regret that greater restraint was not exercised in the coverage of this sad event and we unequivocally recommend that the relevant media outlets follow the wise counsel of the Irish Association of Suicidology when dealing such sensitive issues. – Yours, etc,