As a mother, I am surprised by the number of kids in my circle who are on antidepressants. It is a sad thought that anxiety and depression are affecting kids so young. However, it seems a little extreme that a child of one would require such drugs. According to a 2016 article, the youngest child reported to be prescribed antidepressants was a one-year-old boy. (1)
Antidepressants For Children
When the NHS Tayside in Dundee prescribed the antidepressant for the child in 2014, a spokesperson said it was not necessarily to treat depression. Antidepressants can also be used for other medical conditions ranging from chronic pain and anxiety disorders. However, a child as young as one could be given antidepressants for issues such as chronic pain or even bedwetting. (1)
Antidepressants Prescribed By Doctors And Hospitals
Hundreds of children in the U.K. have been given mood-altering drugs by their general practitioners and hospitals. However, the age group tends to be between 14 and 17 years of age. There was a minimum of 450 patients under the age of 18 prescribed between January and May in 2016 alone. In this case, the youngest was seven. (2)
“Antidepressants are a type of medication used to treat clinical depression, or prevent it from recurring,” explains the NHS spokesperson. “However, they can also be used to treat a wide range of medical conditions, such as chronic pain and anxiety disorders.” (2)
Antidepressants And Therapy
The spokesperson also notes that the medications are often taken while patients undergo therapy if they are suffering from severe depression or for those suffering from emotional distress. (2)
“Alternative treatments for depression include talking therapies, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy and counseling. Regular exercise has also been shown to be useful for those with mild depression,” according to the NHS. They point out it is very important for people under 18 to seek help when “not feeling themselves, feeling down, or experiencing a low mood.” (2)
Support For People Needing Antidepressants
They can look for support from people in their circle of friends, their parents, school counselors, or their doctor. The key is to get speaking about their issues. They also say that girls are more likely to require antidepressants than boys.
Antidepressants And Suicide Risk
Adding to the perplexity of antidepressant use in children, a report compiled by drug companies showed the risk for suicide is doubled in teenagers who take antidepressants. (1)
Sadly, suicide is the third-leading cause of death in those between 15 and 24 years of age. Over 90% of these people are suffering from severe mental illness and the leading condition for suicides in teens. (3)
100,000 Antidepressant Prescriptions A Year
According to NHS guidelines, those under 18 shouldn’t be prescribed antidepressants. Yet in a single year, there are more than 100,000 prescriptions prescribed each year to this age group. (1)
“Antidepressants can have a place in treating some mental health conditions among young people, but they should never be the only course of action,” warns the campaign manager at YoungMinds, Nick Harrop. “It’s important to have a balanced approach to treatment, combining a range of therapies to ensure that the person has the best possible chance of recovery.” (2)
Harrop also points out the importance of parents being given accurate information, so they are in a better position to understand the effects of antidepressants. (2)
