Over 3,000 Children Under The Age Of 15 Were Prescribed Anti-Depressants Last Year

Wednesday, 29 June 2022 09:18

By Caoimhe Harney

Almost 500 of the children were under the age 11.

Over 3,300 children under the age of 15 got anti-depressant medication last year.

According to freedom of information files, it's a 55% increase on five years earlier.

These figures show the number of children who got anti-depressant medication in recent years.

They relate to prescriptions written under the Medical Card Scheme, the Drug Payment Scheme and the Long-Term Illness Scheme.

A total of 3,310 children under 15 got anti-depressants under these schemes last year.

That's 200 more than the year before - and nearly 1,200 more than in 2016.

Of the children prescribed anti-depressants last year, 495 were under the age of 11.

Professor of psychiatry in Trinity College Dublin, Brendan Kelly, says it's not the typical treatment:

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