Nearly 1 in 7 UK adults on antidepressants: should we be alarmed?

Nearly 1 in 7 UK adults are now on antidepressants — and prescriptions have risen 35% in six years. Dr Cohen and Dr John Campbell ask what these numbers mean and why medicalisation may be leaving root causes unaddressed. A measured conversation about depression, SSRIs and the limits of a medication-first approach. They cover side effects and difficulty stopping these drugs, plus wider factors associated with mood — vitamin deficiencies, inflammation, diet, sleep, exercise, human connection and the gut microbiome — and why depression may sometimes be an opportunity to reflect and build resilience. Chapters 0:00 Introduction 1:55 The scale of UK prescribing 4:47 Is depression a real illness? 6:56 SSRI side effects and long-term use 8:16 Which drugs are SSRIs? 9:30 Early agitation and benzodiazepines 12:07 Do SSRIs work? Neuroplasticity 13:35 Checking vitamins and deficiencies 15:58 Mind-body connection and inflammation 18:42 Exercise and social interaction 19:18 Technology and human connection 22:28 Alcohol and mood 24:30 Counselling and CBT 26:19 Gut-brain axis and microbiome 30:04 Depression as an opportunity 33:58 Closing and disclaimer ▶ Watch next — Discussing CLINICAL TRIALS with Dr. John Campbell:    • Every patient is an 'experiment of one,' t...   Subscribe for evidence-first medicine from a practising doctor. Here is the link to Dr. John Campbell’s channel @Campbellteaching. This is general medical information, not personal medical advice. Always discuss your own health with your doctor. #antidepressants #depression #SSRIs #mentalhealth #medicalisation #gpadvice