What's fueling the problem

SwiftFox
SwiftFox Online Community Member Posts: 767 Championing

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgjzwpvy309o

So what's fueling the problem, social media? mobile phones?.

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Comments

  • SoapySoutar
    SoapySoutar Online Community Member Posts: 215 Empowering

    I wonder if prescribing antidepressants to children is a decision taken lightly? I hope not.

  • SwiftFox
    SwiftFox Online Community Member Posts: 767 Championing

    Why now though, it's got to be the use of youtube and social media in my opinion.

  • SoapySoutar
    SoapySoutar Online Community Member Posts: 215 Empowering

    Maybe they grew up seeing the adults at home taking them, and it seems a normal thing to do?

  • OverlyAnxious
    OverlyAnxious Online Community Member Posts: 5,795 Championing

    Youtube and Facebook have been around for over 20 years. Instagram and Smart Phones for over 15 years.

    The major recent change was covid. The world has never been the same since.

  • Catherine21
    Catherine21 Online Community Member Posts: 9,559 Championing
    edited March 26

    Won 3 million case in australia

    Screenshot_20260326_140223_Samsung Internet.jpg Screenshot_20260326_140239_Samsung Internet.jpg
  • Littlefatfriend
    Littlefatfriend Online Community Member Posts: 436 Trailblazing

    The greatest factor by far was the plague. Hence the specific spike amongst that age group.

    That caused sprogs all manner of unusual stressors and exposed them to social isolation at a vulnerable age. It often also had impacts on their education, adding to the usual stress of leaving school. This is further exacerbated by the changes to work and employment practices here.
    The plague also presented many weens with limited access to specialist mental health services and long waiting lists for therapy. This is never good at such a crucially formative age. These days GPs often prescribe medication to bridge care gaps.
    Additionally, increased awareness and reduced stigma (and perhaps the ready availability of "recreational" drugs) also contribute to more teenagers seeking such help.
    I suppose social media may be bad for some bairns, particularly if parents use it to do their job. But it certainly isn't always. My niece and nephew (the former still a teenager) have long sometimes used social media to help organise their social lives, through which they agree meeting in person.
    We shouldn't blame the "messengers".
    We've dug a hole in the provision and popular understanding of mental health care, and only we can get ourselves out of it.

    😇

  • michael57
    michael57 Online Community Member Posts: 2,460 Championing

    I have been listening to a talk about doctors actually prescribing antidepressants to a six year old child and another saying that the internet has made it easier for people to mimic mental conditions to get medication believe what you wish

  • SoapySoutar
    SoapySoutar Online Community Member Posts: 215 Empowering

    I think we should listen to the physicians at the coal face. A GP told me he believes Covid is doing 'alot of heavy lifting', with regards to young people's mental health. This was in answer to my questions, when I last had a Covid vaccine.

  • SwiftFox
    SwiftFox Online Community Member Posts: 767 Championing

    You could say you were suffering anything during covid and get money, there was no one to check…Most got their diagnosis off so called experts on tiktok during covid. Hard to prove if anything is true or false with mental health, how do they stop the fakers. A long of young people have become dependent on these drugs now and probably don't feel they're up to doing a job.

  • Ross1975
    Ross1975 Online Community Member Posts: 883 Championing
    edited March 26

    It can sound alarming to hear about a six year old being prescribed antidepressants, but that’s not something doctors do lightly or routinely. In the UK especially, medication for children is usually a last resort and only considered in more severe cases under specialist care, often alongside therapy rather than instead of it.

    So while it can happen, it’s not the norm and there are quite a lot of safeguards in place.

  • Ross1975
    Ross1975 Online Community Member Posts: 883 Championing

    Social media may raise awareness of mental health issues and influence how teens notice or talk about their own symptoms, but it is not the main reason antidepressant prescriptions are rising. The increase is largely due to higher rates of anxiety and depression, the impact of the pandemic, limited access to therapy, and better recognition of mental health issues. Reducing this complex trend to 'YouTube and social media' is misleading and oversimplifies what’s really happening.

  • Ross1975
    Ross1975 Online Community Member Posts: 883 Championing
    edited March 26

    That’s mostly misleading. Claims that lots of young people are faking conditions or becoming dependent on medication are not supported by evidence. Awareness may have increased during COVID but that doesn’t mean the system is being abused or that medication makes people unable to work. These kinds of statements feed stigma more than they reflect reality.

  • michael57
    michael57 Online Community Member Posts: 2,460 Championing

    Catherine wieland a good example took therapy to a new level as do rather a lot I expect

  • SwiftFox
    SwiftFox Online Community Member Posts: 767 Championing
  • Ross1975
    Ross1975 Online Community Member Posts: 883 Championing
    edited March 26

    I like to read up on these things and I try to check facts where I can.

    Where do you get your information?

  • SwiftFox
    SwiftFox Online Community Member Posts: 767 Championing

    Beano lol

  • chiarieds
    chiarieds Online Community Member Posts: 17,434 Championing

    Catherine Wieland is one person that did unfortunately abuse her PIP claim. However the incidence of benefit fraud is estimated to be less than 1% with PIP claims.

    I think, as with many disorders, there is a heightened sense of awareness due to the internet. However, I don't think Drs have changed their ability to be able to diagnose a person usually correctly & despite where their patient has gained any info from in order to find out more.

    My GP used to ask me, ''& what medical papers have you brought me today?'' Using the internet helped me to find out more, & this GP used to say we'll probably find out in 10 years that you're correct. He was just about right, as it took 9 years to raise awareness of an association between the 2 disorders I have. The internet can indeed be helpful!

    Like @Ross1975 - I believe checking up on facts is more than helpful.

    Any GP/specialist worth their salt will know if someone's mimicking any given condition as they will have already seen many patients suffering from them.

  • michael57
    michael57 Online Community Member Posts: 2,460 Championing

    whilst i agree with some disorders your statement is correct i also believe the lady in question is one of many apples that need shaking from the tree time will tell

  • chiarieds
    chiarieds Online Community Member Posts: 17,434 Championing

    So which disorders do you believe are questionable @michael57? - I hope you know that I love your input on gardening, etc., but can you factually disagree about medical matters & benefits, as you state that, 'with some disorders' [my] statement is correct?' So which disorders are they, & which are not?

  • michael57
    michael57 Online Community Member Posts: 2,460 Championing

    that is an answer best left to the outcome of the pip review i am a little alarmed at the number of new pip claims being submitted each month tho i have to say