A generation in crisis as almost 18,000 teenagers take anti-depressants

RECORD numbers of Scots teenagers are being prescribed anti-depressants, according to figures that have sparked concerns about the growing use of the powerful psychoactive drugs.

Official statistics show almost 18,000 youngsters aged between 13 and 18 are taking anti-depressants due to mental health problems.

This is double the number of the moodaltering pills dished out by GPs to the same age group a decade ago.

The pressures of modern life on children are often cited as a possible cause for the rise in anti-depressant usage, while many argue the drugs are now too

‘Parents need to help their children deal with suffering’

readily prescribed and may be doing many youngsters more harm than good.

One of the factors blamed for the rise in anxiety and mood disorders is the increasing use of social media which exposes children to bullying and peer pressure even when in their own bedrooms.

The pandemic also had a profound effect on youngsters who were forced to spend almost two years cut off from their friends and wider family.

According to a Freedom of Information response by Public Health Scotland, there has been a steady rise in teens using anti-depressants over the past decade.

In 2012 there were 9,970 taking pills such as Citalopram, but this has almost doubled to 17,993.

Some experts warn that handing out drugs that alter brain chemistry might not always be in a young person’s best interests, as the pills do not address the root cause of the depression.

Beverley Thomson, a psychiatric drugs specialist, said: ‘The safety and efficacy of anti-depressant use for young people is far from reassuring. There have been disturbing reports alleging drug firms hid unfavourable data, exaggerated the benefits and hid adverse effects, in particular the risk of suicidality.

‘There is a chance people on antidepressants will experience mood instability sufficient to attract a label of bipolar disorder. A Yale University study found the risk was particularly pronounced for children and adolescents.

‘In an age where we obsess about protecting our children, why do we pay so little attention to the growing trend of prescribing mindaltering anti-depressants to them?’

Ms Thomson added: ‘Why are we allowing young people to believe they are mentally ill and their problems can be solved by popping psychoactive pills?

‘Instead of seeing our children as needing medication, parents need to help children deal with suffering as part of life, part of growing up.

‘Whilst psychiatry says distress and sadness is mental illness, we must teach children that, more often than not, it is just their normal reactions to the difficulties of everyday life.

‘Nothing is more cruel than allowing young people to believe they are mentally ill and their problems can be solved by anti-depressants.

‘By encouraging young people to believe they are to blame for their distress and by medicating them with powerful drugs that change brain chemistry, are we taking away their right to survive and their ability to thrive?’

Her views are echoed by Maggie Mellon, a former social worker specialising in childcare. She believes GPs are too quick to prescribe drugs and that taking the time to talk to young people and getting them to exercise is often the best way to help.

She said: ‘Children are online so there is no break from peer pressure. They are in their bedrooms and vulnerable children are never able to log off or relax.

‘It would be better for children to have walking and exercise groups.

‘We have also had years of austerity and a lot of financial pressure on families and then we had Covid.

‘Distressed children are turning up at surgeries and GPs only have five minutes to deal with them. The pressure on the NHS is enormous.’