Antidepressants Being Substituted for Care by Mental Health Professionals?
According to a recent article in USA today, antidepressant use in the USA has risen by a staggering 400% in the past 20 years. The majority of the antidepressants were used to treat depression. Alarmingly, less than one third of people taking one type of antidepressant and less than half of those taking multiple pills have visited a mental health professional in the preceding year.
Most mental health professionals agree that personal contact with a patient suffering from depression is essential; unfortunately, for many people, it comes down to dollars. In some plans, employees can be reimbursed for prescription drugs, but may not be covered for visiting mental health professionals.
This scenario highlights the importance of having a comprehensive plan. Employee and Family Assistance Programs (EFAPs) are excellent resources to help employees get the help they need. Although the employer’s cost to provide access to mental health professionals may seem significant in the short term, in the long term these visits may help avoid long term antidepressant prescription drug use. Most psychologists agree that drugs are a band-aid fix, and depressed individuals would benefit from visiting mental health professionals.
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