Pharmaceuticals Overshadowing Therapy

A child or teen struggling with depression or anxiety is more likely to be given medicine to help them than to be prescribed therapy, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The study found that doctor's office visits for anxiety that included therapy decreased from 48.8% to 32.6%. However, the anxiety medication prescribed rate stayed about the same, at 60%.

It's becoming more common for children to receive only medication as treatment rather than therapy or a combination of medication and therapy. This trend is concerning, considering that between 2017 and 2021, antidepressant use rose by 41% among teens in the United States. Why is this happening? Evidence points to three significant issues.

Medicine Pills Raining On A Child Holding An Umbrella

Lack Of Access and a Shortage of Mental Health Providers

First, there is a lack of pediatric therapists willing to work specifically with kids and teens. According to the Child Mind Institute, there isn't a single psychiatrist specializing in children and adolescents in 70% of U.S. counties. There's a roughly 8-year gap between when a child first starts to experience symptoms of depression and when they get any form of mental healthcare treatment.

Then, there's the issue of access to the limited number of available professionals. Not everyone lives near a mental health clinic or has the resources to get to one, and even if they do, there is typically a very long waiting list. Diagnosis of anxiety disorders has tripled between 2006 and 2018, increasing from 1.4% to 4.2%.

This increase in anxiety and depression in children has put a strain on available resources. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 5.8 million children in the U.S. were diagnosed with an anxiety disorder in 2019.

Big Pharma Is Monetizing Depression

Better mental healthcare plans exist than prescribing medicine alone, especially for kids and teens. We know the skills kids learn in therapy are fundamental to recovering and overcoming anxiety. But talk therapy does not create the same wealth opportunity as prescribing pills.

Over the last 35 years, efforts by pharmaceutical giants like Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer Inc., and Eli Lilly and Company (makers of the drug Prozac®) to increase awareness of depression and other mental health issues have sparked a significant rise in antidepressant use, jumping from less than 3% in 1990 to 23.1% by 2022. Despite this, the prevalence of depression in the U.S. and Western countries has continued to climb, indicating a need for further intervention strategies.

Fortune Business Insights stated in a report that the global antidepressants market size was USD 11.67 billion before the COVID pandemic hit in 2019. By 2020, the number had already increased to 14.93 billion, projected to exceed 18 billion by 2027. The surge of fear, sorrow, and uncertainty caused by the pandemic has made big pharma profitable.

Chemical Imbalances Are Now Considered Bogus

Did I mention that science now challenges the notion that serotonin abnormalities (chemical imbalances) are the sole cause of depression? Studies now prove no conclusive evidence supports this long-held belief, yet pediatricians have not slowed down significantly when prescribing these drugs to our children.

The Lancet journal found that the effects of antidepressants may not surpass placebo effects and may not improve long-term quality of life after all. Reviews of FDA trials show these medications are only slightly more effective than placebos, with a notable publication bias enhancing their perceived efficacy. These findings call for reevaluating depression care standards, emphasizing that antidepressants are not a panacea.

A comprehensive "umbrella review" in 2022 led by Joanna Moncrieff of University College London, scrutinizing various studies, found no concrete evidence linking serotonin and depression. Moncrieff states, "I think we can safely say that after a vast amount of research conducted over several decades, there is no convincing evidence that depression is caused by serotonin abnormalities, particularly by lower levels or reduced activity of serotonin... Many people take antidepressants because they have been led to believe their depression has a biochemical cause, but this new research suggests this belief is not grounded in evidence."

Further emphasizing this point, she adds, "I think we can safely say that after a vast amount of research conducted over several decades, there is no convincing evidence that depression is caused by serotonin abnormalities, particularly by lower levels or reduced activity of serotonin... Many people take antidepressants because they have been led to believe their depression has a biochemical cause, but this new research suggests this belief is not grounded in evidence." It's not surprising that medication isn't always the perfect solution.

Father and Daughter Spending Quality Time

Coping Skill Alternatives to Medication

Full Disclaimer: This segment is meant to be taken as an individual’s thoughts based on research gathered and summarized from respected sources (links below), but it is not medical advice; I am not a doctor. If you are having a mental health crisis, you should see a professional.

There are many options besides medication for alleviating anxiety and improving mental health in children and teens. One of the best is simply learning coping skills for the inevitable stress of being human. We aren't born with a guide to handling things, so we acquire this ability over time.

It's super important to teach kids and teens these skills early on, like giving them a shield and sword to combat depression and anxiety. The earlier they learn, the more resilient they become, just like getting a head start on studying helps ace a test.

Here are some simple ways to help your child or teen learn coping skills.

Embrace your child's emotions. Recognizing and processing emotions is normal and essential for all ages. There are no right or wrong feelings - all are valid. Acknowledging emotions (even negativity or sadness) can help control stress levels.

Enforce healthy habits. Prioritize balanced nutrition, regular exercise, and adequate sleep for your child. These habits can pre-empt stress and enhance overall well-being.

Cultivate gratitude in your child. Daily acknowledgment of at least one positive thing about their day can shift their focus from frustration to feeling more positive. Ask your child, "What are you grateful for today?" or "Name one good thing that happened at school."

Encourage Creative Hobbies. Painting or drawing can be a therapeutic outlet for expressing emotions while crafting projects like making jewelry, pottery, or model building can provide a tangible sense of accomplishment. Writing: whether poetry, stories, or journaling, helps children and teens articulate feelings and experiences, promoting self-understanding.

Overreliance on pharmaceuticals often overshadows crucial, non-pharmacological interventions such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, physical activity, and creative outlets, which have proven efficacy and can provide life-long coping strategies. Overmedication can also inadvertently teach children that a pill is a quick fix for their problems, undermining the importance of addressing root causes and developing resilience.