Antidepressants are no 'quick fix' for children with mental illness

摘要

In June 2017, The Guardian published data obtained under a Freedom of Information request to NHS England. It showed an increase in the number of children and young people being prescribed antidepressants for anxiety or depression1. The data revealed a 12% increase in the number of young people aged under 18 years being given antidepressants between April 2015 and June 2016. In total, 166,000 children and young people under 18 years were given antidepressants during this time. This figure included more than 11,000 children aged 12 years or under, and 537 children aged six years or under.