A lack of access to effective psychological therapies has led to over-prescription of antidepressants for children and young people. These are the alarming findings of a new survey by teenage mental health charity stem4 shared exclusively today with ITV’s Good Morning Britain (GMB).

More than a third (37%) of 12-to-18 year-olds now claim to have been prescribed antidepressants to treat depression or other mental health conditions at some point during their short lives, rising to 43% among 19-to-21 year-olds.

Despite current guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), which state that “Fluoxetine (the only antidepressant for children and adolescents where the benefits outweigh the risks) should only be prescribed to children and young people following an assessment and diagnosis by a child and adolescent psychiatrist,” more than one in ten (13%) 12-to-18 year-olds say they have been prescribed antidepressants by their GP, and without having been assessed or diagnosed by NHS Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). Only 7% of teenagers have been prescribed antidepressants directly by a child and adolescent psychiatrist or CAMHS healthcare professional. Meanwhile, 17% say they were prescribed antidepressants by their GP, having seen a child and adolescent psychiatrist, and/or CAMHS services. Amongst those aged 12 – 18 who have been prescribed antidepressants by their GP, almost half (49%) said they were given a prescription within their first two GP visits.

In stem4’s survey of 2,007 young people between the ages of 12 and 21, one in four (42%) 12-to-18 year-olds say they are currently experiencing mental health difficulties such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders and self-harming behaviours. Of that 42%, just over a quarter have been able to access some form of treatment.

In another recent survey carried out by stem4, which polled 1,001 GPs, half of the doctors reported that overstretched NHS CAHMS services are now rejecting 60–100% of all referrals for moderate to severe depression and anxiety disorders in young people. GPs are being told that their patients are not sick enough to warrant specialist treatment.

Dr. Nihara Krause, Consultant Clinical Psychologist and founder of stem4, said: ‘The NHS is treating more young people with mental health difficulties than ever before, but if only half of young people who ask for help are able to access effective psychological treatments, then our ambitions aren’t big enough. The young people in this survey have told us they want direct access to one-to-one mental health support in schools and the local community. They want to be able to self-refer, and talk anonymously and confidentially with people who care and can help.’

[Source: stem4 survey of 2,007 regionally representative British young people aged from 12 to 21 conducted by Survey Goo, 15th to 19th July 2022]

Want to read more?
Read the full results in the press release.