Platform 51

News

Categories: Mental health campaign
Monday, 19 September 2011
Women and antidepressants: sign our petition

Antidepressants are not the only answer

Antidepressants have an important role to play in treating poor mental health but they are not the whole solution. Read more about mental health campaign and women and the use of antidepressants or download our briefing Checks and choices: women and antidepressants.

Platform 51 is calling on the Department of Health to commission a review into the use of antidepressants. Please sign our petition to add your name to the call for a review. It should investigate the rate at which antidepressants are prescribed as the only option for mild to moderate mental health problems and the frequency at which people taking them have their treatment reviewed.

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Platform 51 research shows that more than half of women on antidepressants are not offered any alternative support when they were prescribed antidepressants. And that:

• a quarter (24%) of women on antidepressants have waited over a year for a review of their treatment at some point

• half (48%) have been on them for five or more years, and

• a quarter (24%) have been on them for 10 years or more.