The Daily Telegraph says: It’s worth examining how guidelines for depression have been altered

Australia now has three million people who are reliant on antidepressants. It is the equivalent of every man, woman and child from our pre-20th century days lining up for depression treatment. It is worth considering is how guidelines for addressing depression have been altered.

• Fears over ‘frightening’ rise of antidepressants
• Ugly saga that ended Gould’s Panthers reign
• The ‘cane toad’ of Australian tax policy

It wasn’t so long ago that Australia’s entire population was only three million. In fact, it was in 1889 — just 130 years back, when Sydney had not even reached the half-million mark.

Times have changed. Australia now has three million people who are reliant on antidepressants. It is the equivalent of every man, woman and child from our pre-20th century days lining up for depression treatment.

Some of the deeper data on Australia’s huge number of antidepressant users reveals telling trends. People aged between 38 and 57, who were earlier dubbed the Prozac Generation due to being the first Australians with access to that medication, ­remain the most likely to be using antidepressants.

But that may not remain the case for very long. As statistics drawn from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme reveal, more than 100,000 Australian children aged under 17 are now using antidepressant medication.

That figure has grown from 33,780 a mere decade ago. Combined with the ever-growing overall number of antidepressant cases, all of this is generating serious concern among some in the medical community.

According to University of Adelaide psychiatrist Professor Jon Jureidini, in certain cases antidepressants may be used for what he describes as “medicating disappointment”.

“I don’t want to trivialise the distress people feel,” he notes, “but before we consider putting people on drugs we need to look at concrete solutions like ­tackling their poverty or domestic violence, homelessness or unemployment.”

The professor’s point about some causes of depression being beyond mental health is well-made. Also worth considering is how guidelines for addressing depression have been altered.

As mental health researcher Dr Martin Whitely indicates, under previous guidelines a major depressive disorder was only diagnosed following a duration of more than two months.

That period has now been ­reduced to just two weeks.

Of course, in these matters we must always consider the crucial fact that intense depression, even if it lasts only very briefly, can lead to immediate and very tragic outcomes. Any rapid intervention, medical or not, may in these cases be genuinely lifesaving.

Yet three million depression cases across the nation nevertheless does sound excessive.

Phil ‘Gus’ Gould’s reign at the Penrith Panthers is over. Picture: Brett Costello

Gus Gould’s long goodbye

It’s a tough caper, rugby league. This applies on and off the field. Even the most experienced player or club official will occasionally take a big — and sometimes unexpected — hit.

For now-ex Penrith general manager of football Phil Gould, that big hit came last year following well-documented end-of-season coaching dramas at his club. Being the wily veteran that he is, Gould remained on his feet for some time into the 2019 season.

Yesterday, however, his eight-year term at Penrith came to an end. The concern for the struggling Panthers now must be to contain any damaging fallout from Gould’s drawn-out departure.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten listens intently as Shadow Treasurer Chris Bowen speaks during a visit to St John of God Midland Public hospital

Beware the ides of March

Earlier this year, Labor’s shadow treasurer Chris Bowen delivered a cold message to retirees.

And that message was: If you don’t like Labor policies, don’t vote for Labor.

“If they feel that this is something that should impact on their vote,” Bowen declared, “they are, of course, perfectly entitled to vote against us.”

The trouble for Bowen now, as the election campaign continues with a renewed intensity, is that the number of worried retirees may be increasing as we draw closer to polling day.

That number may grow following revelations Labor’s $56 billion retiree savings raid could create two classes of ­pensioners, divided by the seemingly arbitrary date of March 28, 2018.

According to experts, Labor's “pensioner guarantee” only protects self-managed superannuation fund members if they were pensioners prior to that date.

Those who subsequently began drawing a pension, or who plan to draw a pension at some time in the future, fall outside Labor’s guarantee.

As Bowen himself said, if you don’t like it, don’t vote Labor.

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The Daily Telegraph, printed and published by the proprietor, Nationwide News Pty Ltd A.C.N. 008438828 of 2 Holt St, Surry Hills NSW 2010, at 26-52 Hume Highway, Chullora. Responsibility for election comment is taken by the Editor, Ben English.