During the second lockdown last spring, young people were prescribed significantly more antidepressants than usual. The number of prescriptions for 15 to 24-year-olds was 7.9 percent higher than in 2019. “These complaints did not just disappear.”
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This is apparent from research by Nivel (Netherlands Institute for Health Care Research), which is published today. The institute examined the prescriptions for antidepressants of some 350 general practices that are representative for the Netherlands.
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While no greater number of people started using antidepressants during the first lockdown, use skyrocketed during the second lockdown (late October 2020 to mid-June 2021). The number of prescriptions increased by 2.5 percent from 2019, from 688 prescriptions per 100,000 people per week to 705.
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At just under 8 percent, the increase among young people is much larger. Especially at the end of the second lockdown, more teenagers and twenty-somethings were given antidepressants. “It seems that the longer the corona measures were in place, the greater the consequences for this group,” said Nivel researcher Karin Hek.
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Fairly serious
Nivel previously noted that during the second lockdown, young people more often contacted their GP because of depressive symptoms and anxiety disorders. Hek: ,,You don’t just get that medication, so it seems that the complaints are fairly serious or have lasted longer.” Among other things, young people missed their social contacts and often had difficulty with home education.
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You don’t just get that medication, so it seems that the complaints are fairly serious
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Hek does not expect the young people to be off the antidepressants any time soon. “You don’t use these medicines for one or two weeks. They are really meant for a longer period of time.” According to Nivel, it often takes a long time before psychological complaints are resolved. Moreover, the question is how quickly the underlying problems, such as social isolation and difficulty finding a suitable job, are solved.
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Hek: ,,It is important to be aware that this is an issue among young people. The threshold for seeking help should be as low as possible. Parents and friends can also keep an eye on each other.”
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