The cultural phenomenon of antidepressants
The introduction of SSRIs in the 1990s helped recognise mental illness and played a major role in reducing the stigma surrounding taking medication for mental health. Post-pandemic, the usage of antidepressants has only risen more, with researchers reporting that one in six adults in Europe and North America take antidepressants (Gallagher, J. 2025).
Antidepressants are now more accessible for people, and there is more knowledge surrounding the use of antidepressants, with doctors informing patients of the potential side effects. However, there is still a knowledge gap surrounding research and guidance about withdrawal symptoms, mainly because of systemic and societal factors. For example, shorter GP appointments and fewer doctors available. But also because of the close comparison between withdrawal symptoms resembling relapse symptoms that may keep patients on the medication longer than they may have hoped.
”People who have been taking antidepressants for more than two years are substantially more likely to experience withdrawal symptoms compared to short-term users when they come off the medication, finds a new study led by UCL researchers.”