1 in 6 on antidepressants in some areas

[Thunderandlightningisfrightening]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-13623233/One-SIX-people-England-antidepressants-data-shows-quarter-population-country-drug.html

Can't say I'm surprised. I know so many people on them. About 70 to 80 percent of my colleagues are on them.

That is no surprise. They get used as an easy fix rather address the root cause of someone's anguish.

Given the levels of deprivation, decline and antisocial behaviour in some areas I'm only surprised it isn't more.

My gp said I may have genetically low serotonin. I don't even think that's a proven theory?

I'm surprised it is so high, 1 in 4 in NE England.
I don't know anyone who has said that they are on antidepressants. I live in one of the areas where it is lower.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/apr/13/i-was-the-poster-girl-for-ocd-then-i-began-to-question-everything-id-been-told-about-mental-illness

The above is an interesting article on the research about mental illnesses.

We are just at the start of understanding brains.

Gosh. Those figures are much higher than I'd have expected. Very worrying.

I live in one of the lower areas but even so it's almost 15%.

I'm not aware that I know anyone who takes antidepressants (but obviously I may do).

25% in my area!

Some people do. Depression can be genetic and comes through Neanderthal genes. I have depression, ADHD and autism and have low dopamine as a result. I'm on lifelong antidepressants.

18.6% in mine.
The only people I know not on them are my mum and sister. But then I have met my friends via MH groups/therapy/hospital.

Some people genetically have low levels of the neurotransmitters that are associated with depression.

Early abuse, neglect and trauma can permanently alter the brain and no amount of therapy can mend this.

Do you have some peer reviewed research to back that up?

Of course not... but does not seem off that someone will present to their GP and just get sent away with pills, and not therapy?
Not all the people on pills are depressed. For many, it is "shit life syndrome", and changes to their life is what they need (leaving a shitty partner, changing job, getting out of debt etc).
And how many women in peri/menopause get put on AD when it they need HRT instead?

20% here. I know lots of people who take them. I won't, they don't work for me, I'm naturally very low mood, anxious and flat. (This took years of trial and error to realise).

Interesting that it's lower in London.

So they don't help your mood? They help mine but I'm coming off them as they make me fat and I'm worried about side effects long term.

www.livescience.com/health/genetics/10-unexpected-ways-neanderthal-dna-affects-our-health www.livescience.com/health/genetics/10-unexpected-ways-neanderthal-dna-affects-our-health]]]]

Neanderthal genes and health risks.

Recent research has found that autism/neurodiversity is associated too.

ADHD people have lower levels of dopamine than the general population. Many ADHD people have addictions, mainly to nicotine and sugar which can relieve some of the deficiency in dopamine.

news.clemson.edu/study-implicates-neanderthal-dna-in-autism-susceptibility/ news.clemson.edu/study-implicates-neanderthal-dna-in-autism-susceptibility/]]]]

Well I wonder if 'depressed' is just a default position for humans and we're actually not programmed to be happy. 'Happy' has been sold to us as some sort of consumer product but actually, maybe, its just not our natural state.

I have depression, anxiety and ADHD.

I take a low dose of an AD. As long as I'm allowed to, I'll never stop taking it.

Our natural state I suppose is survival

Well we know the brain is wired for negative experiences.

Anxiety is a flight state.

Depression a freeze state.

They must be beneficial for our survival to be so common.

I've just finished auditing our out patient psychiatry department. Referrals have increased 85 % since 2020.

85%!!!

Guess how much our staffing and budget have increased over the same period (hint:it's not fucking 85%, not even close!)

Or we are being sold that 'happy' is the default, when it really isn't. Being 'meh' and neutral is normal.

Mental health is complex because it can he genetic, situational and environmental. Lots of people who may not genetically predisposed are struggling because life is full on and stressful. We don't live 'naturally' though you could argue how we live is better than what we should be living naturally. But then like a zoo animal...is this always better? Hard to know.

My local trust saw referrals double during/after Covid.

And like you said, no increase in the staff to cope.