Blog•May 11, 2026
Depression: The Story We're Told Is Marketing
On May 4, 2026, the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services highlighted a growing dependency crisis, noting that 16% of American adults, one in ten children, and a third of college students have used antidepressants. Recent meta‑analyses debunk the serotonin‑deficiency model, showing no consistent biological link and revealing that antidepressants deliver only a modest 1.8‑point improvement on the Hamilton Scale, largely driven by placebo effects. Withdrawal symptoms affect roughly 43% of patients, and long‑term use creates dependence, while side‑effects such as weight gain, sexual dysfunction, and increased suicide risk persist. Studies on volunteering and prosocial behavior demonstrate far stronger reductions in depressive symptoms, suggesting viable non‑pharmacologic alternatives.
