A record number of young people on pills for depression
100,000 Australian children are now taking antidepressant pills to cope with depression and it marks the first time that this figure has been reached among children in the country. Even more concerning is that the number of teenagers taking pills for depression outweighs any other age group according to data from The Departments of Health and Human Services.
Children and teenagers are now living in a digital age that continues to power on with technologies like social media influencing the mental health of younger people, with depression and mental health becoming one of Australia’s greatest public health concerns.
So, just how much do we know about depression and the mental health of youth in Australia and how effective are antidepressants in helping young people deal with depression?
If you or anyone you know needs help, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.