More than a million anti-depressant prescriptions handed to teens last year

MORE than a million antidepressant prescriptions were filled with teenagers last year, shocking figures obtained by The Sun on Sunday reveal.

Doctors handed out a record number of pills, including Prozac, to 13-19 year olds, for a total of 1.118 million doses prescribed.

The number rose from 823,000 prescriptions filled five years ago in 2016, and experts attribute the increase to COVID-19 closures and fears about the future.

the National Health Service figures – disclosed to us under freedom of information laws – also show that the number of prescriptions written to teenagers accelerated last year to the highest rate in five years.

In total, 1,118,000 prescriptions were dispensed to teens last year in 2021, compared to 1,036,000 in 2020. That means an additional 82,000 prescriptions were dispensed, or 1,577 each week.

NHS guidance states that antidepressants It should only be prescribed to those under 18 years of age in cases of moderate or severe depression when taken together with psychological therapy.

In some cases, the side effects of taking such medications are thought to trigger suicidal thoughts and self harm.

A 2017 NHS survey of school children found that almost two per cent of girls and one per cent of boys suffered from depressionwith many more recorded as experiencing anxiety disorders.

The same survey found that the percentage of children with a mental health problem was much higher when one of their fathers It was also recorded that he suffered from mental health problems.

and a recent Unicef survey ranked the UK in the bottom third of wealthy nations when it came to assessing the quality of children’s mental health.

Their report indicated that problems with children’s mental health were likely to worsen, saying: “The existing children’s mental health crisis is likely to intensify.

“The experiences of confinement and economic uncertainty it can harm the mental well-being of many children. Children can feel anxious, insecure and fearful about the future.”

Anastasia De Waal, director of children’s charity I Can Be, said: “These figures underscore the difficulties young people are facing around mental health, and the analysis paints a bleak picture of the ongoing effects of the pandemic and the economic uncertainties.

“It is essential to continue to raise awareness of mental health and ensure that clear advice and practical support are easily accessible to young people and parents.”

Chris Martin, chief executive of The Mix, a charity for under-25s, said: “The continued rise in antidepressant use by young people is really worrying, with some 13-year-olds being prescribed medication for treat your mental health.

“While the use of medication to treat mental health problems can be invaluable, its prevalence as the first or only course of treatment for young people is concerning.

“It is crucial that young people are informed of other routes available and understand that options such as counseling or improved sleep, diet and fitness can improve their mental well-being.”