Protocols for Prescription of Anti-depressants to Patients Under 25 and Link between Anti-depressant Usage and Youth Suicide

Debated in Parliament on 5 Oct 2021.

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Carrie Tan inquired about current protocols for prescribing antidepressants to youths under 25 and called for a review of intervention pathways due to concerns over a correlation between antidepressant use and youth suicide.
Health Minister Ong Ye Kung stated that primary care doctors conduct clinical assessments to determine diagnosis and severity, with treatment or referral recommendations based on these assessments.
He noted that clinical practice guidelines from the professional community guide doctors on prescribing, weighing risks and benefits, and that complaints about inappropriate prescriptions can be investigated by MOH or the Singapore Medical Council.

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Carrie Tan

Ms Carrie Tan asked the Minister for Health (a) what are the current protocols in place for the prescription of anti-depressants to patients under 25 years old by primary care doctors; and (b) in view of the correlation between increased anti-depressant usage and youth suicide, whether the Ministry will consider reviewing the intervention pathway and protocols to enhance safeguards against the use of anti-depressants in youths and children too early or unnecessarily in their mental health recovery process.

Ong Ye Kung

For children or adolescents seen in a primary care clinic with symptoms of depression, the polyclinic doctor or general practitioner (GP) will make a clinical assessment on the diagnosis and severity of the condition; subsequent recommendations for treatment or referral would be based on their clinical assessment.

Clinical practice guidelines developed by the professional community and experts in practice exist to guide doctors on how to prescribe, taking into consideration the risks and benefits of treatment. The Member may wish to refer to the MOH website for specific details.

MOH or the Singapore Medical Council (SMC) will investigate if it receives complaints on inappropriate prescription for mental health services.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

Carrie Tan inquired about current protocols for prescribing antidepressants to youths under 25 and called for a review of intervention pathways due to concerns over a correlation between antidepressant use and youth suicide.
Health Minister Ong Ye Kung stated that primary care doctors conduct clinical assessments to determine diagnosis and severity, with treatment or referral recommendations based on these assessments.
He noted that clinical practice guidelines from the professional community guide doctors on prescribing, weighing risks and benefits, and that complaints about inappropriate prescriptions can be investigated by MOH or the Singapore Medical Council.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Protocols for Prescription of Anti-depressants to Patients Under 25 and Link between Anti-depressant Usage and Youth Suicide | PAPERCUTS

Protocols for Prescription of Anti-depressants to Patients Under 25 and Link between Anti-depressant Usage and Youth Suicide

Debated in Parliament on 5 Oct 2021.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

Carrie Tan inquired about current protocols for prescribing antidepressants to youths under 25 and called for a review of intervention pathways due to concerns over a correlation between antidepressant use and youth suicide.
Health Minister Ong Ye Kung stated that primary care doctors conduct clinical assessments to determine diagnosis and severity, with treatment or referral recommendations based on these assessments.
He noted that clinical practice guidelines from the professional community guide doctors on prescribing, weighing risks and benefits, and that complaints about inappropriate prescriptions can be investigated by MOH or the Singapore Medical Council.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Full Transcript

Carrie Tan

Ong Ye Kung

MOH or the Singapore Medical Council (SMC) will investigate if it receives complaints on inappropriate prescription for mental health services.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

Carrie Tan inquired about current protocols for prescribing antidepressants to youths under 25 and called for a review of intervention pathways due to concerns over a correlation between antidepressant use and youth suicide.
Health Minister Ong Ye Kung stated that primary care doctors conduct clinical assessments to determine diagnosis and severity, with treatment or referral recommendations based on these assessments.
He noted that clinical practice guidelines from the professional community guide doctors on prescribing, weighing risks and benefits, and that complaints about inappropriate prescriptions can be investigated by MOH or the Singapore Medical Council.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Protocols for Prescription of Anti-depressants to Patients Under 25 and Link between Anti-depressant Usage and Youth Suicide

Summary

Questions Identified

Full Transcript

Carrie Tan

Ong Ye Kung

Summary

Questions Identified

Protocols for Prescription of Anti-depressants to Patients Under 25 and Link between Anti-depressant Usage and Youth Suicide

Summary

Questions Identified

Full Transcript

Carrie Tan

Ong Ye Kung

Summary

Questions Identified