This report by Shauna Bowers (and (concerning Ireland) comes from the Irish Times. It begins:
“Antidepressant prescriptions to children aged 15 and under has increased by more than 130 per cent over the past decade, according to new figures from the Health Service Executive (HSE).
The figures have prompted concerns from representatives in the sector, who have said there is a “growing crisis” in being able to meet the needs of children and young people seeking help
Figures obtained by The Irish Times show that a total of 6,541 prescriptions for antidepressants were issued for children aged 0 to 15 years old in 2012. This figure has risen significantly since then, reaching 15,113 in 2022.
The increase is most pronounced in teenagers aged 12 to 15 years old, who saw a 150 per cent rise in the number of prescriptions issued, from 4,454 in 2012 to 12,801 in 2022.
The increase among 0 to 11 year olds was much smaller at 10.7 per cent, rising from 2,087 to 2,312 across that time period …”
You can read more from here.
