Coalition Offers Resources to Parents Confronting Antidepressant Issue

ParentsMedGuide.org and PhysiciansMedGuide.org are resources created by the AACAP and the APA which offer information on pediatric and adolescent depression to general practitioners, pediatricians, parents, and families. They also offer information on different forms of treatment and the most up to date scientific studies on the disease.

For immediate release:
Feb 01, 2005

Contact:
Jim Wood, Director Development and Communications
202.966.7300, ext. 120, jwood@aacap.org
Erin Hanson, Communications Specialist
202.966.7300, ext. 119, ehanson@aacap.org

WASHINGTON, DC — A mental health coalition including the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) and American Psychiatric Association (APA) announced the launch of a website designed to help families make informed decisions about antidepressants and their children. Click here to view the ParentsMedGuide.org site.

Along with the AACAP and the APA, the following have participated to form the resource website and corresponding guidebook:

American Association of Suicidology
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
American Psychiatric Association
American Society for Adolescent Psychiatry
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
Families for Depression Awareness
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill
National Association of Psychiatric Health Systems
National Mental Health Association
Society for Adolescent Medicine
Suicide Awareness Voices of Education
Suicide Prevention Action Network

The Coalition-created guide joins a host of AACAP resources for families living with childhood and adolescent mental illnesses. These include the Sample Letter to Families (written for doctors to explain the FDA warnings about antidepressants), its Facts for Families series, and the parenting handbooks: Your Child and Your Adolescent.

For more information visit www.aacap.org or www.campaignforamericaskids.org.

Representing over 7,500 child and adolescent psychiatrists nationwide, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) is the leading authority on children’s mental health. AACAP members actively research, diagnose, and treat psychiatric disorders affecting children, adolescents, and their families.

The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) is the leading authority on children’s mental health. AACAP members actively research, diagnose, and treat psychiatric disorders affecting children, adolescents, and their families.

Our Facts for Families, available free of charge on the AACAP website, provide concise and up-to-date information on a wide array of issues relating to children’s mental health. Written in a simple, straightforward manner, these 88 one-page fact sheets are valuable to anyone raising or working with children. In addition, the AACAP routinely refers the media to expert spokespeople on child and adolescent issues, and sponsors The Campaign for America’s Kids – an initiative designed to fund an Advocacy Institute for Child and Adolescent Mental Health, with the goal of mental health for all children.

AACAP Mission: The Mission of the AACAP is the promotion of mentally healthy children, adolescents and families through research, training, advocacy, prevention, comprehensive diagnosis and treatment, peer support and collaboration.