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Guidelines for sites linking to mayoclinic.orgIntro: Suicide is hard to talk about. Research shows that approximately 30-thousand people in the U.S. commit suicide each year. But for certain groups of people the suicide rate is higher. One such group is people with schizophrenia. Let's go to Mayo Clinic where researchers have new data on how many people with schizophrenia will tragically take their own lives.
| Video | Audio |
| VO: video of Fred arranging tools | WORKING WITH HIS HANDS HELPS FRED ZEISMER ESCAPE FROM THE COMPLICATED MENTAL ILLNESS HE'S BATTLED FOR TEN YEARS. |
Fred Zeismer (8:19)Has Symptoms of Schizophrenia |
"BEFORE I GOT ON MEDICATIONS I WAS REALLY GOING THROUGH A HARD TIME." |
| VO: Fred at home | FRED HAS SYMPTOMS OF SEVERE DEPRESSION AND SCHIZOPHRENIA. THE WORST SYMPTOMS, HE SAYS, |
| Fred Zeismer (10:17) | "IT'S MY DAD, ALWAYS MY DAD ..." |
| VO: video of Fred | ARE THE AUDITORY HALLUCINATIONS. THE VOICES. |
| Fred Zeismer (4:09) | "MY DAD SAYS SOMETHING TO ME, LIKE, 'SON YOU'RE A LOSER,' FOR INSTANCE, AND I'LL SAY, 'NO I'M NOT.'" |
| VO: To video of Fred | FRED SAYS THOSE TAUNTING VOICES ARE PART OF WHAT DROVE HIM ONE HORRIBLE DAY TO WANT TO PULL THE TRIGGER. |
| Fred Zeismer (8:21) | "I PUT MY 4-10 UP AND I PUT MY TOE ON THE TRIGGER AND I HAD THE BARREL IN MY MOUTH AND I STARTED CRYING AND SAID, 'I LOVE MYSELF TOO MUCH TO SHOOT MYSELF FRED.'" |
VO: From Fred to Viv stand up VO: Study video |
HE DIDN'T DO IT. FRED DIDN'T BECOME A SUICIDE STATISTIC. YOU SEE, RESEARCHERS HAVE THOUGHT THAT FOR EVERY 100 DEATHS OF PEOPLE WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA, 13 ARE CAUSED BY SUICIDE. THAT'S COMPARED TO ONE OUT OF 100 DEATHS IN THE GENERAL POPULATION. BUT A LARGE STUDY AT MAYO CLINIC SHOWS THE NUMBER OF SCHIZOPHRENICS WHO TAKE THEIR OWN LIVES IS ACTUALLY MUCH LOWER. |
John Michael Bostwick, M.D. Mayo Clinic Psychiatrist (14:34) |
"WHAT WE FOUND WAS A LITTLE MORE THAN 5-PERCENT. AND FURTHERMORE WE FOUND THAT THE SUICIDE WAS CONCENTRATED IN THE 1ST FEW YEARS OF THE ILLNESS." |
| VO: from Dr. Bostwick to Fred at home | KNOWING WHEN PATIENTS LIKE FRED MAY BE AT HIGHER RISK OF SUICIDE ALLOWS DOCTORS TO FOCUS ON THAT TIME AND HELP PEOPLE GET THE MEDICATIONS, AND THERAPY THEY NEED. |
| Sound bite from Fred | "THIS IS MY SON DYLAN ..." |
| VO: Fred at home looking at pictures of family. | AND WITH THE SUPPORT OF HIS FAMILY, FRED IS LIVING. GETTING BETTER EVERYDAY. |
| FOR MEDICAL EDGE, I'M VIVIEN WILLIAMS. |
Tag: Dr. Bostwick says researchers are not sure why people with schizophrenia are at higher risk of committing suicide in the first few years after diagnosis. It may be because they are overwhelmed by the diagnosis and what it means for their future.
Doctors also don't know exactly what causes schizophrenia and there's no one cure. But medications, therapy and support from loved ones help treat the symptoms.
To find out more about schizophrenia and the warning signs of suicide, log onto our Web site at ...
STATIONS: Per the licensing agreement, please provide a link from your station's Web site to www.mayoclinic.org/medical-edge or voice tag "mayoclinic.org/medical-edge" for more information.
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