• Antidepressant use is increasing in Australia, with 14% of the population currently taking them, and the UK, with over eight million people taking them, raising concerns about overprescription and long-term use.
• Women and older people are disproportionately prescribed antidepressants, often without meeting clinical guideline criteria or for longer durations than recommended.
• Inadequate guidelines and support for antidepressant withdrawal are causing patients to experience severe side effects and relapse, highlighting the need for better tapering strategies and alternative treatments.

Antidepressant usage is on the rise in both Australia and the UK, sparking concern among medical experts. In Australia, approximately one in seven people (14%) are currently taking antidepressants, a figure that includes a disproportionate number of women and older adults. The increasing prescription rates are raising concerns that the drugs are being prescribed when not clinically necessary or for longer periods than advised. Similar concerns are echoed in the UK, where over eight million people are on antidepressants. A significant issue is the lack of adequate support and guidelines for patients attempting to withdraw from these medications, leading to unpleasant side effects and potential relapse. Experts emphasize the need for improved prescribing practices, better withdrawal management strategies, and exploration of alternative treatments to address the growing reliance on antidepressants.

• What: Increasing antidepressant use, particularly long-term, with concerns about overprescription and inadequate withdrawal support.
• Who: Patients, particularly women and older people; GPs and psychiatrists; Professor Katharine Wallis, Dr. Cathy Andronis, Professor Robert Howard, Professor Dame Clare Gerada.
• When: Data and concerns are highlighted from the present day (early May 2025 according to Daily Mail) and comparisons made to antidepressant usage 20 years prior.
• Where: Australia (Medical Republic) and the UK (Daily Mail Online).

The rise in antidepressant use in both Australia and the UK points to potential systemic issues within healthcare. The overprescription, especially to vulnerable groups like women and the elderly, suggests a need for improved diagnostic practices and adherence to clinical guidelines. The emphasis on long-term use raises further questions about the efficacy of these medications over extended periods and the potential for adverse side effects. The lack of adequate withdrawal support highlights a significant gap in patient care, potentially leading to increased reliance on antidepressants and poorer mental health outcomes. Further research is needed to determine optimal tapering regimens and explore alternative therapies.

Around one in seven Australians is now taking antidepressants (3.9 million people, 14%), and the prevalence of use is rising.

Patients, more commonly women and older people, are both started on antidepressants when clinical guideline criteria are not met, and continued on antidepressants for longer than clinical guidelines recommend for most people.

If only 2% of antidepressant users had severe withdrawal symptoms, the scale of the problem is alarming given that nearly 2 million Australians are long term antidepressant users.

Many of these older patients are never seen by a mental health specialist, they’re just bunged on antidepressants by their GP. And then, because the GPs don’t check up on them, these patients remain on the tablets indefinitely.

Treatment which involves some social engagement, like group counselling or therapy, would be great for these patients. But NHS waiting lists for these treatments are years long, largely because so many young people have mental health issues now. So there’s not really any other option other than antidepressants. However, we need to get better at working out which patients can eventually come off them.

Antidepressant usage is a growing concern in both Australia and the UK. The increasing rates of prescription, particularly among women and older people, coupled with long-term use and inadequate withdrawal management, necessitate a reevaluation of current practices. There is a call for improved prescribing guidelines, increased access to alternative therapies such as talking therapy, and more effective strategies for supporting patients during antidepressant withdrawal. Ongoing research is crucial to determine optimal treatment approaches and ensure better mental health outcomes for patients.