Scrutinising Mental Health Policy + Practice
Not Anti-Psychiatry, Anti-Bad Psychiatry
Current Controversies in Australian Mental Health
In 2024-25, 18.8% of Australians were dispensed at least one mental health-related medication. Antidepressants were by far the most commonly used, with 13.9% of Australians receiving at least one antidepressant. ADHD drugs are by far the fastest growing with 760,622 Australians dispensed them in 2024-25; a more than threefold increase since 2019-20. Most (81%) of mental health-related prescriptions dispensed in 2024–25 were prescribed by general practitioners.
These high rates of psychiatric drug use invite obvious questions: Are Australians benefiting from all this medication use? Read More
For years we have known that the youngest children in a school classroom are more likely to be 'medicated' for ADHD than their older classmates. Why have educational and medical authorities done nothing to address this anomaly? Read More
The limited, inadequate response of authorities to alarming evidence of increased suicide/self-harm rates correlating with rising antidepressant use at least appears to have stopped the previous reckless promotion of antidepressants as a suicide prevention measure. But the fundamental question remains: Is Australia's reliance on antidepressants saving or costing lives? Read More
Beware - Here Comes DSM6
The next edition of the American Psychiatric Association's 'Bible of Psychiatry' is being written now. Will Australian psychiatry continue to compliantly follow America's lead? Update coming soon.
In the 2025 Financial Year 3,798 preschoolers aged 0 to 4 years were 'medicated' with amphetamines, antipsychotics and/or antidepressants. Why does nobody in power seem to care or even notice? Update coming soon.
None of the 113 diagnosis and treatment related recommendations in the 'evidence-based' national guideline on ADHD have good quality supporting evidence. Mark Butler and the NHMRC know this but continue to promote the guideline as 'evidence-based'. Read More
Latest Blogs
PsychWatch Australia and its publisher Dr Martin Whitely have no connection with any commercial interests, or religion, or any other relevant conflict of interest. Dr Whitely has no medical training and Psychwatch Australia does not offer treatment advice. Media and research enquiries, story leads, and offers to contribute articles are welcome and should be directed to psychwatchaustralia@gmail.com