I think that people end up on psych meds so often because, at least in the US, that is what our health care system advocates. We don't have any institutions in place to treat mental illness with both drug and non-drug means or a combination of both.

Even though it's been nearly 30 years ago, I can still vividly remember my dilemma deciding whether or not to take antidepressant medications. I had been depressed for over 18 months and was continuing to get worse. I had been seeing a psychotherapist for over a year. I was getting lots of exercise and eating as well as I knew how. I read self-help and religious books and examined my soul.

I can look back now and know that there were many other things I could have done, but at the time, the choice seemed to be to try antidepressant medication or lose my job and end up moving back in with my parents, and I knew very well that that wasn't going to be good for my mental health.

I don't know what the answer is.