Missing actor's body found in Vancouver park, source says

[CraftyGal]

Source: CNN

(CNN) -- Actor Andrew Koenig, missing since February 14, was found dead in Vancouver, British Colombia, Thursday, a source close to the family told CNN.

The body of the former "Growing Pains" star was found in a park, according to the source, who spoke to Koenig's father after Koenig was informed of the discovery.

The source asked not to be named because of the sensitivity of the matter.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/TV/02/25/growing.pains.actor.dead/index.html

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My heart goes out to the Koenig family at this time. Andrew struggled wiht depression and had been off of his meds for about a year.

CraftyGal

[Liberal_in_LA]

1. Star Trek's 'Chekov's son. Sad.

[Dogmudgeon]

6. Lots of Trek family tragedy

Nerine Shatner (Bill's last wife) died in a swimming pool accident; the real cause was likely alcohol + depression.

Thomas Nichols (Nichelle "Uhura" Nichols' brother) killed himself in the Heaven's Gate mass suicide.

George Takei has been an out gay for years, and has not had an easy row to hoe, although he and his partner Brad were allowed to marry a few years ago. He also spent part of his childhood in a WW2 internment camp for Japanese-Americans.

Grace Lee Whitney ("Yeoman Rand") was sexually assaulted by a Desilu/Paramount exec and then fired from ST:TOS.

I'm sure I missed a few others.

--d!

[CraftyGal]

9. Wow, I knew of some of the incidents but not all.

Fame is not always the greatest thing as some will attest to.

CraftyGal

[LisaM]

2. Very sad. I saw that a few minutes ago in the Vancouver paper.

It's too bad.

[Donnachaidh]

3. awww maaannn

that's awful. Our thoughts are with the Koenig family tonight.

[onehandle]

4. That sucks. I thought he was just holed up somewhere.

Damn.

[Phoonzang]

5. I figured that's what happened when I read he was last seen in Stanley Park. nt

[Skittles]

7. his pain is over

so sorry for the Koenigs and others who cared about Andrew

[Delphinus]

17. You said what I feel.

Thank you.

[From The Ashes]

8. My condolences...

..to the Koenig family. RIP Andrew.

[The Doctor.]

10. Just so that no one misunderstands, suicide has nothing to do with prospects;

This was Andrew;




Suicide is about looking at the here and now, and wanting to get off the train in the worst part of town, rather than thinking about where the train may go.

[Danmel]

11. How sad

Condolences to the Koenig family.

[EFerrari]

13. Suicidal is when you can't imagine the train going anywhere.

[bitchkitty]

23. He looks like his father. n/t

[progressoid]

12. Damn.

[TommyO]

14. For all of those who trash SSRI's and other depression meds

"He had stopped taking medication for depression about a year ago, his father said."

SSRIs save lives, while I don't know for sure what meds Andrew was on, as one who has been helped by anti-depressants, I can truly say that they save lives.

[daleo]

15. They save some lives, and take others

Blanket statements don't apply to suicide and SSRIs.

[Zoeisright]

16. They save more lives than they take.

http://www.aacap.org/cs/root/developmentor/suicide_and_ssri_medications_in_children_and_adolescents_an_update

Do a little research before you spout off.

[daleo]

19. I have read widely on the subject

I had a 22 year old nephew commit suicide while on these drugs, and a sister-in-law nearly succeed twice, so I have had my motivation to do research. Much of the evidence has been suppressed by drug companies. I've done my research, so I will kindly appreciate you not lecturing me on that subject. Who the hell are you to accuse strangers of "spouting off" on a life and death subject?

I think they help the severely depressed but are over prescribed, so they do harm to many people who shouldn't really be taking them. They make tons of money for drug companies, so drug companies have a motivation to influence doctors to prescribe them in cases where it is simply not wise.

[WriteDown]

20. So your depressed relatives attempted suicides?

Not a surprise. Unfortunately, even on SSRI's people can still be depressed.

[daleo]

21. You're comments aren't addressing the issue

Your comment isn't germane to the issue. The issue is that SSRIs induce suicidal ideation and behavior in people who wouldn't have otherwise experienced them. The drugs come with that explicit warning, although it took many deaths for the FDA to take that measure. It is a statistically significant effect. They do more harm than good for some people.

Furthermore, my nephew wasn't depressed. He was prescribed an SSRI for a condition we used to call "being a bit shy". Drug companies have influenced doctors into prescribing SSRIs far beyond the conditions that they were tested for. Premature ejaculation and back pain are just two examples. They are a powerful drug, and have become over prescribed.

It is arguable whether they even have much of a positive benefit for depression (i.e. long lasting and superior to other therapies), but that's another discussion.

[WriteDown]

22. Yes, but anecdotal evidence is not scientific evidence...

You seem to be under the impression that your relatives did not "need" SSRI's. Is that your medical opinion? Do you know for a fact that the outcome would have been different if they were not on SSRIs?

[daleo]

24. Here's a statement from NIMH

"Recently, there has been some concern that the use of antidepressant medications themselves may induce suicidal behavior in youths. Following a thorough and comprehensive review of all the available published and unpublished controlled clinical trials of antidepressants in children and adolescents, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a public warning in October 2004 about an increased risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior (suicidality) in children and adolescents treated with SSRI antidepressant medications. In 2006, an advisory committee to the FDA recommended that the agency extend the warning to include young adults up to age 25.

More recently, results of a comprehensive review of pediatric trials conducted between 1988 and 2006 suggested that the benefits of antidepressant medications likely outweigh their risks to children and adolescents with major depression and anxiety disorders. The study, partially funded by NIMH, was published in the April 18, 2007, issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.1

What Did the FDA Review Find?
In the FDA review, no completed suicides occurred among nearly 2,200 children treated with SSRI medications. However, about 4 percent of those taking SSRI medications experienced suicidal thinking or behavior, including actual suicide attempts—twice the rate of those taking placebo, or sugar pills.

In response, the FDA adopted a "black box" label warning indicating that antidepressants may increase the risk of suicidal thinking and behavior in some children and adolescents with MDD. A black-box warning is the most serious type of warning in prescription drug labeling."

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/child-and-adolescent-mental-health/antidepressant-medications-for-children-and-adolescents-information-for-parents-and-caregivers.shtml

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Of course I don't know what would have happened "for a fact" if my nephew wouldn't have taken SSRIs. That's an irrelevant debating ploy - nobody knows the outcome of a future that didn't happen. In my opinion, my nephew would have been alive today. He had never shown any suicidal inclinations before this, or had even been depressed. He just felt some anxiety in large social groups, which is actually not unusual, especially at that age.

On this subject, people should do their own research and draw their own conclusions. There are websites, books and medical journal articles available.

The next time you are at the funeral of a person who committed suicide, give this issue some serious thought rather than just gainsay alternative opinions. I know that can be fun, but this is a life and death matter.

[WriteDown]

25. I'll quote from your own link...

"In the FDA review, no completed suicides occurred among nearly 2,200 children treated with SSRI medications. However, about 4 percent of those taking SSRI medications experienced suicidal thinking or behavior, including actual suicide attempts—twice the rate of those taking placebo, or sugar pills."

I find it amazing that you think you know exactly how your nephew felt. Most people who are depressed find it very difficult to confide in people.

[WinkyDink]

28. Maybe because children usually have minders, aka, parents.

[WriteDown]

29. Who keep them on suicide watch?

Even prisoners manage to commit suicide.

[WinkyDink]

27. In fact, anecdotal evidence comprises a large part of medical knowledge.

[WriteDown]

30. It does not compose scientific fact. nt

[proteus_lives]

31. Agreed.

" think they help the severely depressed but are over prescribed, so they do harm to many people who shouldn't really be taking them."

That's very, very true.

[WinkyDink]

26. And the sudden stoppage can lead to this type of mental havoc.

[hamsterjill]

18. So sorry for Andrew and his family

I'm sorry that Andrew, who was undeniably talented, was in such pain.

The pain and anguish that is so very visible on his parent's faces is very sad. They both look like they are about to crumble. I hope they are able to find some peace in some way.