Antidepressant Use Among Young Females Surges Post-Pandemic

A comprehensive study reveals a significant increase in antidepressant prescriptions for young women, while rates for young men remain unchanged or decline.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a notable rise in antidepressant use among young females, with a 130% increase in dispensing rates for female adolescents and a 57% increase for young adult women.
Antidepressant prescriptions for young males either decreased or showed little change, raising concerns about potential underdiagnosis and undertreatment of mental health issues in this group.
The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan and published in the journal Pediatrics, utilized data from 2016 to 2022, highlighting a pre-existing upward trend in antidepressant use that accelerated post-March 2020.
Mental health experts emphasize the importance of access to care and the destigmatization of mental health treatment, noting the potential for antidepressants to lower suicide rates among adolescents.
Challenges during the pandemic, such as social isolation and increased reliance on telehealth, may have contributed to the surge in antidepressant prescriptions, with experts urging continued research and support for youth mental health.