Common medicine linked to suicides

ONE in every 33 children, including preschoolers, is taking anti-depressant medication as concerns mount that the drugs could be driving up youth suicide rates.

The medical regulator has called on doctors to review their prescribing of the controversial drugs after it found use of the medications had soared by 36 per cent in the past five years.

The Therapeutic Goods Association (TGA) also found suicide rates had increased across all age groups, especially among children under the age of 15, but said there was not enough evidence to say that the drugs were the cause.

While a direct connection between anti-depressant and suicide is still being investigated, doctors say there can be severe and long-lasting withdrawal symptoms when people attempt to get off the drugs.

The head of adolescent psychiatry at the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatry, Dr Paul Robertson, is concerned that antidepressants are being prescribed “too often” and says Australia’s increasing use “is not clearly aligned with the various guidelines that exist around the world”.

He said he had seen instances of the medications being prescribed to children as young as four.

“I think it’s probably mostly not appropriate and a different sort of intervention is required,” he said.

Anti-depressants are not registered for the treatment of depression in anyone under the age of 18 in Australia, yet more than 175,000 people in this age group were using them in 2019.

The TGA found about 40,000 children aged five to 11 were prescribed anti-depressants between 2015 and 2019.

A Productivity Commission inquiry into mental health last year found there was evidence the medications were being prescribed to people without a mental illness, contrary to people’s preference and before alternatives had been tried.

Australia is now the third highest user of the medicines in the world.

Doctors admit they are issuing the drugs out of desperation – and outside of medical guidelines – because child psychiatrists are too expensive and waiting times can be up to 12 months or longer.

“It’s a very difficult thing when you’re at the frontline, the other day there was somebody under 10 who was facing six to 12 months to try and get into somebody,” Australian Medical Association vicepresident and GP Dr Chris Moy said.

If you need help with a mental health issue contact Lifeline on 131 114 or the Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800.