How to cure depression?

[Aractus]

What ever you do DO NOT listen to Daniel.

Nice. There's a petition against Effexor you know - that's just the start of its controversy, and I've known a lot of people who have used the drug. Is it helpful? Yes it is in the short term (up to 9 months or so). GP's may be qualified to prescribe antidepressants, but mental ilness is not their area of expertise and they are unable to adequately assess its effectiveness for their patients - this is not an insult against GP's, in fact more than one GP I know agrees with me on this. In my view, patients should be referred to a psychiatrist. I would support legislation that made this mandatory for all long-term antidepressant prescriptions, that way everyone benefits - GP's have less burdens on them, patients will receive better care - and most importantly - their psychiatrist visits would be either bulk-billed (free) or charged in the way GP visits usually are. My friend has been on antidepressants for 15 years, I don't think he's ever seen a psychiatrist in his life. All he sees is a psychologist about twice a year and his GP every time he needs his prescription renewed. How that helps is totally beyond me. I'm the one who sees the effects of his medication - not his GP who sees him once every few months for 5-10 minutes.