FAMILIES whose children took their own lives after being prescribed meds linked to suicidal ideation are calling for a law change to recognise how their loved ones died, with one mum stating: “It would be vindication for Jake.”
Promising young student Jake McGill Lynch was just 14 years old when he took his life in 2013.
The youngster wanted to become a garda when he left school and suffered pre-exam anxiety before his Junior Cert — exams that he would never get the chance to sit.
Jake, from Clondalkin in Dublin, had been diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome and was linked with the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services when he was prescribed Fluoxetine for his anxiety in the run-up to his exams.
Fluoxetine is the generic name for the anti-depressant called Prozac, which can have the side effect of suicidal ideation — a side effect that is at an increased risk for under-18s.
Jake’s mother Stephanie told The Irish Sun that her son had never showed any signs of self-harm or suicidal ideation.
However, just 46 days after he started taking Prozac, he took his own life.
Stephanie said: “Jake was the most amazing little boy. He is as pure as the driven snow. He’d never kissed a girl. He’d never been to a youth club.
“He was what I call my little geeky boy. He was a dream. Super intelligent. Super kind.
“An individual who kept his friends close. He had them since he was small.
“Jake had dreams. He had plans. He wanted to become a garda. Jake had no depression.
“No history of suicidal ideation or self harm.
‘NEVER GOT TO SIT EXAM’
“He was medicated for school anxiety regarding the Junior Cert. He never got to sit that.
“Jake was everything you want in a human being. He is really missed because he is loved so much.”
Jake had written an email the day before he killed himself where he talked about being “drugged out of my mind that I’m trying to suppress all the bad feelings”.
Jake’s parents Stephanie and John faced a 15-month battle in the Coroner’s Court, which they described as combative and stacked against families.
INSURANCE IMPACT
The coroner gave an open verdict on Jake’s death and rejected the verdict of suicide because the teenager was not in his right mind.
However, the coroner would not elaborate on the medication’s possible involvement.
Stephanie and John were in Dail Eireann today as Sinn Fein’s Mark Ward put forward an amendment to the Coroner’s Act that would enable a verdict of “iatrogenic suicide” — ending one’s life when the primary cause is the effect of medication.
This change — dubbed Jake’s Law by Sinn Fein — would give some families closure after a death, by recording the truth behind how their loved one died.
“Jake was the most amazing little boy. He is as pure as the driven snow. He’d never kissed a girl. He’d never been to a youth club.”
Stephanie McGill Lynch
It could also impact insurance payouts, as some companies do not make payments in cases of suicide.
Sinn Fein’s Padraig MacLochlainn had tried to make a similar change to the law as a Senator in 2017, but this was shot down by then Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan, who argued the verdict could be interpreted as apportioning blame on the doctor who prescribed a medicine.
‘VINDICATION FOR JAKE’
Mental Health Minister Mary Butler today told the Dail that the Government would not be standing in the way of the legislation at the moment and allowed it to move to second stage unopposed.
A decision on whether to enact the amendment will be made by the Justice Minister when the legislative change comes to Dail’s second stage.
For Jake’s family, the change would help finally record the truth about what happened to their son.
Stephanie said: “For us, this would be vindication for Jake.
“You found cause of death. It could vindicate so many people.
“The main thing I think people should take away from it is that this can come to anybody’s door.
TELLS THE TRUTH
“It has come to nearly everybody’s door in Ireland — there isn’t a family untouched by suicide, I don’t think. It is up there with cancer for me.
“We’re all about truth and this verdict, for me, tells the truth.
“I’d like your readers to know that is what it’s for. We’re not saying, ‘There’s Jake, he’s another suicide, another statistic,’ because he is not just a statistic.”
Stephanie and John were joined in the Dail today by Jim and Vera Connell, whose son Darren took his own life at the age of 17 shortly after being prescribed a medicine for acne.
Darren was on doxycycline for just two weeks before he took his life — having never shown any symptoms of self harm or suicidal ideation.
The European Medicines Agency last year launched a study to look at any potential connection between suicidal ideation and the use of doxycycline after a number of worrying reports.
FAMILY CLOSURE
However, the research found there was not enough evidence at the moment to establish a link.
Sinn Fein TD Johnny Guirke today gave an emotional contribution to the Dail debate on the proposed change to the Coroner Act.
He said: “I knew Darren. He was a great footballer. He played with my under-14s right up to minors.
“He was friends with my own son. He was looked up to by everybody.
“He was a great young fella. He probably would be in Croke Park with the Meath team next Sunday if he was still around.
“I want to say how important this bill is to families like Darren’s to give closure by having the correct verdict recorded.”
The Dail heard that Darren’s family have asked for a meeting with the Minister of Justice and the Minister of Health to discuss what happened to their son in more detail.
- IF you have been impacted by the contents of this article, there is help available 24/7 at Pieta on 1800 247 247, the Samaritans on 116 123, or online at the youth mental health support Jigsaw.ie.
Sinn Fein’s Johnny Guirke paid tribute to Darren[/caption]
