Home » Misc » Depression birth control pills

Depression birth control pills


SAMHSA’s National Helpline | SAMHSA

Your browser is not supported

Switch to Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari

Main page content

  • SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders.

    Also visit the online treatment locator.

SAMHSA’s National Helpline, 1-800-662-HELP (4357) (also known as the Treatment Referral Routing Service), or TTY: 1-800-487-4889 is a confidential, free, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year, information service, in English and Spanish, for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance use disorders. This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations.

Also visit the online treatment locator, or send your zip code via text message: 435748 (HELP4U) to find help near you. Read more about the HELP4U text messaging service.

The service is open 24/7, 365 days a year.

English and Spanish are available if you select the option to speak with a national representative. Currently, the 435748 (HELP4U) text messaging service is only available in English.

In 2020, the Helpline received 833,598 calls. This is a 27 percent increase from 2019, when the Helpline received a total of 656,953 calls for the year.

The referral service is free of charge. If you have no insurance or are underinsured, we will refer you to your state office, which is responsible for state-funded treatment programs. In addition, we can often refer you to facilities that charge on a sliding fee scale or accept Medicare or Medicaid. If you have health insurance, you are encouraged to contact your insurer for a list of participating health care providers and facilities.

The service is confidential. We will not ask you for any personal information. We may ask for your zip code or other pertinent geographic information in order to track calls being routed to other offices or to accurately identify the local resources appropriate to your needs.

No, we do not provide counseling. Trained information specialists answer calls, transfer callers to state services or other appropriate intake centers in their states, and connect them with local assistance and support.

  • Suggested Resources

    What Is Substance Abuse Treatment? A Booklet for Families
    Created for family members of people with alcohol abuse or drug abuse problems. Answers questions about substance abuse, its symptoms, different types of treatment, and recovery. Addresses concerns of children of parents with substance use/abuse problems.

    It's Not Your Fault (NACoA) (PDF | 12 KB)
    Assures teens with parents who abuse alcohol or drugs that, "It's not your fault!" and that they are not alone. Encourages teens to seek emotional support from other adults, school counselors, and youth support groups such as Alateen, and provides a resource list.

    After an Attempt: A Guide for Taking Care of Your Family Member After Treatment in the Emergency Department
    Aids family members in coping with the aftermath of a relative's suicide attempt. Describes the emergency department treatment process, lists questions to ask about follow-up treatment, and describes how to reduce risk and ensure safety at home.

    Family Therapy Can Help: For People in Recovery From Mental Illness or Addiction
    Explores the role of family therapy in recovery from mental illness or substance abuse. Explains how family therapy sessions are run and who conducts them, describes a typical session, and provides information on its effectiveness in recovery.

    For additional resources, please visit the SAMHSA Store.

Last Updated: 08/30/2022

SAMHSA Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator

Home

Welcome to the Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator, a confidential and anonymous source of information for persons seeking treatment facilities in the United States or U.S. Territories for substance use/addiction and/or mental health problems.

PLEASE NOTE: Your personal information and the search criteria you enter into the Locator is secure and anonymous. SAMHSA does not collect or maintain any information you provide.

Please enter a valid location.

please type your address

  • FindTreatment.

    gov

    Millions of Americans have a substance use disorder. Find a treatment facility near you.

  • 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

    Call or text 988

    Free and confidential support for people in distress, 24/7.

  • National Helpline

    1-800-662-HELP (4357)

    Treatment referral and information, 24/7.

  • Disaster Distress Helpline

    1-800-985-5990

    Immediate crisis counseling related to disasters, 24/7.

  • Overview
  • Locator OverviewLocator Overview
  • Locator OverviewLocator Overview
  • Finding Treatment
  • Find Facilities for VeteransFind Facilities for Veterans
  • Find Facilities for VeteransFind Facilities for Veterans
  • Facility Directors
  • Register a New FacilityRegister a New Facility
  • Register a New FacilityRegister a New Facility
  • Other Locator Functionalities
  • Download Search ResultsDownload Search Results
  • Use Google MapsUse Google Maps
  • Print Search ResultsPrint Search Results
  • Use Google MapsUse Google Maps
  • Icon from Find practitioners and treatment programs providing buprenorphine for opioid addiction (heroin or pain relievers). Find practitioners and treatment programs providing buprenorphine for opioid addiction (heroin or pain relievers).
  • Icon from Find practitioners and treatment programs providing buprenorphine for opioid addiction (heroin or pain relievers). Find programs providing methadone for the treatment of opioid addiction (heroin or pain relievers).

The Locator is authorized by the 21st Century Cures Act (Public Law 114-255, Section 9006; 42 U.S.C. 290bb-36d). SAMHSA endeavors to keep the Locator current. All information in the Locator is updated annually from facility responses to SAMHSA’s National Substance Use and Mental Health Services Survey (N-SUMHSS). New facilities that have completed an abbreviated survey and met all the qualifications are added monthly. Updates to facility names, addresses, telephone numbers, and services are made weekly for facilities informing SAMHSA of changes. Facilities may request additions or changes to their information by sending an e-mail to [email protected], by calling the BHSIS Project Office at 1-833-888-1553 (Mon-Fri 8-6 ET), or by electronic form submission using the Locator online application form (intended for additions of new facilities).

Birth control pills have not been proven to be linked to depression

Sign up for our 'Context' newsletter to help you sort things out.

Image copyright, BSIP

Image caption,

Some of the side effects of birth control pills have been well known since they were on the market in the 1960s

One scientific study recently postulated an association between birth control pills and risk of depression .

This is not the first study purporting to find unwanted side effects of birth control pills.

But, as Elisabeth Kassin writes, an illiterate interpretation of statistics poses a much greater danger to women's health.

According to the World Health Organization, over 100 million women around the world use combined oral contraceptives, also known as birth control pills.

Some of the side effects of these tablets have been well known since they were introduced to the market in the 1960s. But a recent study allegedly established a link between birth control pills and depression.

Danish scientists studied the medical records of more than a million women aged 15 to 34 who had never suffered from depression in the past.

They found that those who took birth control pills were more likely to be prescribed antidepressants or diagnosed with depression later on by doctors.

The results of the study were reported in the press around the world. "Do you take birth control pills? You are more likely to be depressed: women who take contraceptives are 70% more likely to suffer from depression," one newspaper loudly declared. "Contraceptive pills are associated with depression. Why didn't a scandal erupt?" asked another.

Image copyright, Getty Images

Image caption,

Birth control pill randomized trial impossible

Skip the Podcast and continue reading.

Podcast

What was that?

We quickly, simply and clearly explain what happened, why it's important and what's next.

episodes

The End of the Story Podcast

However, as Phil Hannaford of the University of Aberdeen points out, the Danish study showed only "a small effect, if any."

Of every 100 women not taking birth control pills, 1.7 were using antidepressants. Among every 100 women taking oral contraceptives, this number is slightly higher - 2.2.

According to Hannaford, this is a very small difference. "The difference is 0.5, which is one woman in every 200," he says.

Although these data indicate a statistical relationship, they do not indicate a causal relationship, as some other factors may be at work in this case.

"For example, some of the women who take birth control pills may have separated from their partners. This, in turn, can lead to depression," he notes.

Such studies are sufficient to suggest a hypothesis, but we should not forget that they do not provide evidence for a causal relationship, adds Phil Hannaford.

This requires a large randomized controlled trial in which one group of women is given the test substance and another is given a placebo.

In this case, this is not possible (and unethical) because women who receive a placebo would think they are taking contraceptives and would not take other steps to prevent conception.

Image copyright, Getty Images

Image caption,

Birth control pills from the 70s

This is not the first time scientists have been talking about the possible side effects of birth control pills.

Rare cases of blood clots, which can be life-threatening, attract the most attention.

But a poor understanding of the degree of risk can lead to undesirable consequences.

Professor Gerd Gigerenzer of the Harding Center for Risk Literacy in Berlin says that “There are many traditions in the UK, including scaring people about the risks associated with birth control pills. lead to thrombosis.

In 1995, the British Medicines Safety Board issued an official warning, citing a study showing third-generation birth control pills "doubled the risk of thrombosis".

"Alarms have been sounded all over the country," says Prof. Gigerenzer.

As a result of this panic, some women stopped taking contraceptives. According to some estimates, this led to an increase in the birth rate by 12,400 babies in 1996 and 13,600 additional abortions.

"This is an example of a lack of risk literacy - not understanding the difference between relative and absolute risk leads to an emotional reaction, which in turn leads to negative consequences for the women themselves," he says.

Image copyright, SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Photo caption,

Pregnancy and childbirth lead to thrombosis more often than the birth control pill

What is the absolute risk? And how should women understand it?

The Guardian recently published a film about young women who died of blood clots after using hormonal contraceptives - birth control pills, vaginal rings and patches.

The authors of the film argue that if women knew about the mortality rate, they would stop using hormonal contraceptives. They also state that out of 10,000 women who use vaginal rings, at least a few die.

"It's not certain that a few out of 10,000 women will die," says Dr Sarah Hardman of the Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

"It would be more accurate to say that a few out of 10,000 women - between five and 12 - will develop thrombosis. But not all of them will die from this. In fact, only about 1% of women who develop thrombosis die" she says.

"We are talking about the fact that three to 10 out of every million women die due to blood clots resulting from the use of hormonal contraception," - emphasizes Hardman.

For women of reproductive age who do not use hormonal contraceptives, only two out of 10,000 women per year face a fatal outcome.

But, of course, not using birth control pills to avoid thrombosis increases the risk of pregnancy. And pregnancy, in turn, in itself dramatically increases the risk of thrombosis.

"Among pregnant women, it's about 29 per 10,000," says Dr. Hardman.

"In the first few weeks after giving birth, 300 to 400 out of 10,000 women are at risk of developing blood clots," she continues.

In other words, pregnancy and childbirth are much more likely to cause thrombosis than the birth control pill.

In addition, the birth control pill is very effective in preventing pregnancy. Only the intrauterine device, implants or sterilization are more effective.

Swallowing tablets. How are birth control pills related to depression?

Treatment

MedicineCondomsSex

29 November 2018

Independent0125 The serious mental illness side effects of oral contraceptives have been highlighted in a new documentary by Olivia Petter for the BBC. AIDS.CENTER publishes the translation.

Birth control pills have been controversial since they were introduced in the UK in 1961.

Despite existing research linking their use to breast cancer, blood clots, decreased libido and weight gain, they remain the most popular form of contraception, with over a hundred million women worldwide taking them.

At the same time, a large body of research shows a strong correlation between the use of birth control pills and the development of psychiatric disorders, and a new BBC Two documentary sheds light on the severity of the problem, showing how taking them has driven some women to depression and suicidal thoughts.

Contained in pills (both contraceptive and mini-pill) hormone - progesterone - scientists associate with the development of mental complications: depression, anxiety, mood deterioration.

However, researchers have yet to find an ethical way to prove causation, because such studies would need to include a control group taking a placebo, which can lead to unwanted pregnancies, which in turn raises many moral complexities.

The BBC collaborative team conducted a survey that read: "Contraceptive pills: how safe are they?" The results showed that one in four women who took the pill reported negative effects on their mental health.

Related

Prevention

Spit in the frog's mouth, eat the bee: A history of contraception since ancient times

    Condoms Sex

One of these women is Danielle, she is 31 years old. In an episode titled "Horizon," she recalls how the side effects were "terrible and debilitating," clarifying that she never had any mental health problems before starting birth control. “I went from normal to suicidal in just 6 months,” she adds.

Grazia Editor-in-Chief Vicky Spratt had a similar experience and recalls how her mental health began to deteriorate soon after starting birth control when she was 14 years old. This led her to depression and regular panic attacks.

"I remember thinking, 'If this is what the rest of my life is going to be like, I don't want to live like this,'" Spratt, 30, says in the documentary.

Spratt is now scheduled to take antidepressants and undergo cognitive behavioral therapy, but she explains that no doctor has linked her worsening mental state to birth control.

After extensive research on the Internet, she found several research materials linking depression to birth control. Vicki decided to take a break from her appointment to see if her condition would improve. Bottom line: She began to feel better “in just a few weeks.”

In the BBC story, Spratt talks to Copenhagen professor Øyvind Lidegaard, who has access to a unique database of medical records—in Denmark, each patient's data is entered into a centralized system. This allowed him to observe the recordings of more than a million Danish women aged 15 to 34 over a period of sixteen years and to conduct two studies on the relationship between mental health and hormonal contraception.

related

Prevention

“There is no sex in the USSR”: A review of Soviet condoms

    HIVCondomsPrevention

One study showed that women taking contraceptives, whether combined drugs or drugs based on progesterone alone, are more likely to be prescribed antidepressants than those who do not take birth control. The difference is especially noticeable among women aged 15 to 19 who take combination drugs.

Another study links hormonal contraceptive use to suicide attempts and suicide. Lidegard's research is supported by a separate study from Sweden covering over 800,000 women, which was published in March 2018.

Despite the number of women experiencing mental health problems due to birth control, Spratt notes that too little has been done in the UK to combat this problem. This is due to a lack of data and the apparent reluctance of the UK National Health Service (NHS) to take action to correct the situation.

She has been studying the link between the birth control pill and mental illness for almost two years and after several inquiries, she found out that this is not an area where the NHS has any data at all.

This means that the NHS does not monitor women who take oral contraceptives and are treated for mental disorders at the same time, at least not to the extent that the Danish medical system does.

The paper also concludes that women may not be fully informed about these side effects before starting treatment - without any mention of depression or anxiety disorders. Instead, leaflets distributed to women at sexual health clinics only mention "mood changes" as a possible side effect.

“What does that even mean? It could mean anything,” Spratt says in an interview with The Independent. “I think the NHS has become attached to 'mood swings' because they're worried that stopping birth control could cause a huge spike in unwanted pregnancies. It surprises me that despite the known link between progesterone and depression, the NHS doesn't even look into it and as a result we don't know anything about how many women in the UK experience these side effects."

related

Treatment

Will this help? How safe is sex with antiseptics

    HIVSTI Sex

Spratt describes the seeming reluctance as "weird", adding that this is why she chose to take part in the BBC documentary. She is convinced that research and data must be collected so that doctors can properly inform women about the potential risks of taking birth control pills.

Physician Zoe Williams explains that all medications have potential side effects, but the story of birth control is a bit different because it is taken by perfectly healthy women, not those who want to prevent or cure a disease.

“Therefore, side effects that significantly affect quality of life in a negative way are unacceptable,” she concludes.

Learn more