Is Pill Popping The Only Way To Treat Depression? It Is For Irish Doctors

Thankfully, the stigma once associated with mental illness is slowly but surely disappearing and if you're not feeling yourself or if you're feeling a bit down or anxious, there are several ways, organisations and counselling methods to help you get through a rough patch.

But, it seems that for some medical professionals, the easiest way to deal with depression is to prescribe some pills and send the patient on their way - without trying to get to the root of the problem or even examine their medical records.

Journalism student Niamh Drohan visited seven GP's as part of an investigation into the treatment of depression among young people and the results are not only shocking - they're disappointing too.

Reporting her experience in The Examiner, the final-year student from UL reveals that of the seven appointments she made to see a GP in the Waterford area, only one doctor spent longer than 15 minutes on her consultation and all seven prescribed anti-depressants, in some instances, for a whole 12 months.

"I told each of the doctors that I was struggling to find motivation to do my college work; was having trouble sleeping; and that I was reluctant to go out and socialise. All of the GPs I visited diagnosed me with a mild form of depression, stemming from the stress of my final year in college," Niamh reveals.

Bressie has spoken out about suffering from anxiety

She adds, "In one case, a three-month prescription was given in less than 10 minutes, with the same doctor asking if I was “thinking of doing away with myself”. This doctor said the only thing she could do to help was “prescribe medication”".

So what kind of pills were prescribed? From seratonin boosters to anti-anxiety medication, five different medications were prescribed with one type of seratonin booster being prescribed by three different doctors. 

Even more worringly, none of the GP's talked Niamh through the possible side effects which include weight gain, loss of libido and insomnia and only one doctor advised the student to return if she felt her mood was deterioriating. 

And it seems counselling isn't looked upon as a viable alternative to medication either. "All of the GPs suggested counselling as a form of treatment but I received no referrals from any doctor I visited. One suggested that he felt I had “a handle on it myself” and felt I would benefit from a “mild old pill”. For the counselling to be most effective, it was felt that it would be in conjunction with taking antidepressants," Niamh explains. 

Our perception of mental illness might be changing, but it seems that old habits die hard for those who should be pioneering the latest and most innovative ways to treat depression.