Can medication help mental health?

Medication can help with mental health, particularly in severe cases of depression, such as clinical depression with a risk of suicide. However, Louisa Nicola expresses caution about the overuse of pharmaceutical drugs for treating depression. She criticizes the marketing practices of pharmaceutical companies, suggesting that they may influence people to use medications when it may not be necessary. Nicola emphasizes the importance of prevention strategies and daily mental exercises to manage mental health more effectively 1.

Additionally, Dr. Jay Lombard, in discussion with Nicola, highlights that medications should be used judiciously. They should be reserved for severe cases where lifestyle changes alone may not be sufficient. Lombard points out that lifestyle interventions can often be more effective than antidepressants for cases that are not severely debilitating 2.

Therefore, while medication can be part of the treatment for mental health issues, it should be carefully considered and supplemented with lifestyle changes and mental health practices wherever possible.