“A paradoxical reaction or paradoxical effect is an effect of medical treatment, usually a drug, opposite to the effect which would normally be expected. An example of a paradoxical reaction is suicidal ideation caused by antidepressants.” It is now widely acknowledged that prescription drugs can put us at risk of dangerous adverse effects, most notably that antidepressants and some other medication can raise the risk of suicide. At recent events run by Samaritans Scotland, N

On 1st February, “Time to Talk Day”, Maureen Watt, Minister for Mental Health in Scotland, took to Twitter and encouraged us “to take the time to talk more openly about how we feel”. Never one to normally need encouragement to air my views, I found this invitation too tempting to ignore. According to the “Time to Change” Website, “Time to Talk Day” is a chance for all of us to be more open about mental health – "to talk, to listen, to change lives, wherever you are – at home