Young women aged 15 to 19 were more than twice as likely as males of the same age to be prescribed drugs for depression. Up to 2.5 per cent of males of the same age were prescribed anti-depressants last year. Garland said adolescents suffer from depression at a rate similar to adults from about age 14. That means that at any given moment, somewhere between five to six per cent of the population, adolescents and older, will currently be clinically depressed. Although the suicide rate is highest in young men, young women are believed to suffer major depression at a higher rate.
Males also tend to be more reluctant than females to seek help when they are depressed.
The drugs are also prescribed for other mental disorders such as panic disorder, social phobia and anxiety. Garland said if you include major depression, chronic minor depression and other mood and anxiety disorders, up to about 14 per cent of the total population could benefit from medication. Successful treatment also depends on dealing with problems in the patient's life. We know that the best outcome is to combine medication with other kinds of strategies ranging from getting more exercise, more sleep, positive mental problem solving and social skills. But therapy is not always available.