‘Clock is ticking on mental health crisis’ - specialist warns of over prescribing of antidepressants as winter approaches
A therapist who specialises in helping to reduce and resolve traumatic memories is warning of a future mental health crisis if antidepressants continue to be prescribed as a “catch-all” coping solution.
Danny Greeves is an award-winning therapist and published author on trauma and whilst his patients tend to present with more advanced mental health challenges, he is reporting an increase in self-referrals from patients who have been prescribed antidepressants by their GPs.
‘The clocks going back often heralds the start of the busiest time of the year for therapists like me, Danny explains.
‘For many people, there can be a feeling of the year coming to a conclusion and that can create challenges around achievements, goals, missed opportunities, reflection and loss.
‘I’m a niche trauma specialist that uses leading-edge psychological techniques focused on helping people release old, stored emotions from childhood and relationship trauma. However, I’m getting a lot more enquiries from prospective patients who have been put on antidepressants by their GPs when that may not always be the best solution.
‘These drugs are of course hugely invaluable for a lot of people but they seem to be increasingly prescribed as a coping mechanism when what is actually required is treating the root cause. I sympathise hugely with GPs as they have a very small window in which to treat patients and patients in turn often want something tangible so medication is a popular option. There is also a backlog in terms of access to other talking based therapies via the NHS such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) which can be very useful in many cases.
‘The challenge with antidepressants is that they don’t actually treat the condition, they mask it. It is more akin to a bandaid over a wound. The symptoms sometimes improve and coping may become easier but the issue at hand isn’t actually being tackled. If anything, it is being stored away and it may well resurface and even worsen. There is also a major commitment with anti-depressants and whilst the GP can prescribe them in minutes, for the patient it's a minimum 6-12 month commitment.
‘There is also a risk of dependency on the medication or if stopped, a change in behaviours or in some cases the temptation of self-medication with alcohol or other drugs as part of a DIY coping strategy.
‘My advice if people are seeking professional help is to consider all therapies available alongside the medicinal route. I realise that private support is perhaps not accessible to everyone but there are other avenues to explore and I would advocate that antidepressants should not be the first port of call for patients. They have their role but they should not be the default.’
Danny is a member of the Association of Psychological Therapies (APT), the Federation of Holistic Therapists (FHT) and the Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC).
Danny’s 3 top tips to beat the winter blues as the clocks go back:
Set winter-specific goals. As the nights draw in, many of the activities we enjoy during the summer months are no longer available to us, but that doesn’t mean this time of the year can’t be enjoyable. We often feel our most positive and fulfilled when we’re making consistent progress towards meaningful goals. Whether it’s starting a new crafting project or setting a home workout fitness goal, find an easy way to record and track your progress. Pick out some winter themed rewards to celebrate as you go to help you stay focused in the weeks ahead.
Cultivate a winter mindfulness habit. Extensive research shows the benefits of mindfulness to both our mental and physical health. But one of the most important psychological benefits is being able to notice and observe our thoughts. By becoming more mindful, you’ll be able to notice when unhelpful or negative thoughts come along and become more skilled at letting the thoughts go, rather than letting them have power over you.
Learn something new. Your brain’s reward network lights up when you learn something new that interests you. Not only do you get the mental benefits of increasing your knowledge, improving your memory and greater mental flexibility, learning inspiring new information gives you a regular dose of the feel-good chemical dopamine, boosting feelings of pleasure and achievement. With so many free online courses, YouTube channels and open access books available, boost your mood this winter by filling your mind with interesting information.
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