Editorial: What's making our kids so depressed?

The news about the increased use of antidepressants in Whanganui and across the nation comes as no surprise.

Over the past decade-plus, we have been taking more and more medication to help us feel a little bit happier about life.

The conclusion of those grim statistics might be that we are getting more miserable by the day. And it is not just a New Zealand phenomenon, more like a worldwide epidemic.

Last week, a frankly disturbing TV One news story revealed that one in five teenagers were on the happy pills.

In the decade from 2006 to 2016, the increase in prescribed medication for children in the 0 to 13 years age range leapt from 1206 to 2163. In the 14-18 year group, from 6249 cases in 2006 we have plunged to 12,617 cases in 2016.

Those are shocking figures and something we should feel ashamed of.

The Ministry of Health deputy director of mental health Dr Ian Soosay commented: "It's not just here but in countries as diverse as the UK, China and India. Mental health is now becoming a leading cause of disability.

"And from a scientific point of view, we don't really know what's caused it."

So what has happened to us - and particularly to our young people?

My teenage years were a long time ago, but I never heard of any of my peers suffering from depression or taking medication.

Bullying, domestic violence and child abuse are cited as reasons behind the growing desperation that seems to be enveloping our young people, so it is just a case that life was a lot simpler back then.

I spent my time kicking a football around and while I got anxious about exams and girls (not necessarily in that order), I wouldn't have dreamed of going to a doctor.

I feel for young teens today (and I have three of them), life seems more complicated, more pressured and, of course, social media does much to exacerbate those problems.

Is it too naive to say: "It's the internet what's done it"?

Whatever is driving this, we need a serious and determined effort to turn the tide.