We are 'over reliant' on anti-depressants

[AB Asks]

Liberal Democrat leader, Nick Clegg, will later say that Britain is a "Prozac Nation", he will say that the over-use of pills and poor mental health services are failing the public. The party will reveal figures that show some people have had to wait over two years for counselling. They say that anti-depressants are a quick fix for the bigger issues that are causing mental problems. What do you think? Are anti-depressants over prescribed?

[4getmenot]

bigger issues?? sometimes people with the smallest of problems or that go to doctors just not feeling right get offered them

[Ice.Maiden]

Yes, I think anti-depressants are over prescribed. This type of medication has its place, but is often given tp patients who could well do without it. Prozac, being the "happy drug" can be dangerous - as with most of these type of drugs. I think scientists should be looking into the effects of pollutants in the air and water, additives in our food (and also water supplies), and ask themselves why people are becoming so depressed or anxious. The government does little to help, as it's they who impose ridiculous laws & put pressure on people. Many mental problems aren't that at all really. Drugs help those in need, but block out the worries of many ordinary people - and cause side effects. More counselling, & help centres should be available.

[kp nonuts]

Sod the bloody prozac, whens the beta site going to run properly

[evedawn]

WHilst i do think that anti depressants are over prescribed i also think that there are certain cases wherre anti depressants are required.

what would probably work equally well, for depression is COUNSELLING but....like the previous posts the wait is ridiculously long. I work for the NHS and feel that the mental health funding is woefully inadequate.

[Poppy]

I had an incredibly positive experience with the NHS when I was depressed (if that can be possible!) Admittedly I was very depressed so received intensive psychotherapy straight away but I can honestly say that if I was a very wealthy American (Woody Allen springs to mind) I could not have received or afforded better treatment. Anti-depressants were an absolute must at the time but they in no way aided my recovery- they kept me alive though giving my therapy time to work. It was a long process but I'm proud to be one of the NHS' success stories! If I won the lottery I'd give a large proportion to my local mental health trust. They need more funding but do a terrific job WHEN they can.

[babybombo]

Like poppy I had a great experience with the NHS mental health services.
I had mild depression and I only had to wait two weeks for counselling, and only that long because it was over the christmas period.
When I did get that counselling, parts of which were Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, I couldn't have asked for better. They were really great with the problems I had at the time.

I do agree that anti-depressants are over used. And from experience of friends of mine, many people are given the wrong doses for their illness and end up worse than they started out. Last year my friend was depressed and was put on fluoxetine, bearing in mind she was 15 at the time, and the dose she was given was so high that it made her suicidal and she ended up in hospital. She was in no way suicidal before starting the drugs. Another friend on the same anti depressants used to have hallucinations and terrible nightmares on these drugs.
I think in some cases of course, anti depressants are inevitable but in most they are not needed and the illness would be better treated by forms of therapy/counselling.