Why are so many Australians taking antidepressants?
- Written by Jon Jureidini, Research Leader, Critical and Ethical Mental Health research group, Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide
Daisy Daisy/ShutterstockAround one in seven Australians take antidepressants; more than 3.5 million of us had them dispensed in 2021–22. This is one of the highest antidepressant prescribing rates in the world.
Guidelines mostly recommend antidepressants for more severe depression and anxiety but not as first-line treatment for less severe...





