Former prime minister Scott Morrison’s public revelation about his experience of anxiety, and that he was treated with medication while continuing to work during 2021, has prompted conjecture about the need for transparency around politicians’ mental health.
As a psychologist, I can tell you the reality is that Morrison joined the one in four Australians diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, and one in seven treated with medication. Given such high prevalence and treatment rates, it is clear that poor mental health should not be automatically equated with poor decision-making., just as thousands of other Australians do every day. This may include medication, therapy, social support, exercise, and lifestyle and diet changes.
The exact mechanisms that make SSRIs effective remain the focus of ongoing research, but a plethora of scientific findings and anecdotal evidence demonstrate the efficacy and safety of SSRI medication. There’s a good chance that some or many people in your workplace are or have been prescribed them.