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Prescribing data suggest that over eight million people in England are on antidepressants and that increasing numbers are taking these drugs over long periods of time. Evidence suggests the potential for health risks, adverse withdrawal symptoms, emotional harm and disempowerment from long term antidepressant use. Data showing especially high levels of prescribing across economically disadvantaged areas also raise clear concerns around health inequalities and social justice.
In a context in which ongoing austerity exists alongside a cost-of-living crisis and intensive pressures on already under-resourced health care systems, what can be done to move away from ‘quick fix’ antidepressant prescribing towards a more personalised, bio-psycho-social approach to mental health care?
This seminar will examine the potential issues associated with long-term antidepressant use; consider what can be done to better support low-income patients who present in primary care with mental distress caused or exacerbated by poverty; and consider how research in this field can be undertaken in more engaged and empowering ways to bring about transformative change.
Drawing on our experiences on the DeStress II project, we will provide an overview of resources developed collaboratively by researchers, practitioners and community partners to support healthcare consultations for poverty-related mental distress. We will share an overview of the training, and its uptake and impact within primary care.
The DeStress community partners will talk about why they got involved in the study, how they have worked alongside researchers and GPs and their creation of a peer-support group.
We will also be joined by Dr. Mark Horowitz who will discuss the efficacy of antidepressants, antidepressant withdrawal symptoms and his pioneering work at the Psychotropic drug Deprescribing Clinic in North East London NHS Foundation TrusT.
Get your tickets here.