"Over-the-Counter Antidepressants: A New Era in Mental Health Treatment"

The FDA's approval of over-the-counter oral contraceptives reflects the need for wider access to birth control, but the same accessibility is not available for antidepressants, despite their safety and effectiveness. With high levels of depression reported in national surveys and limited access to psychiatrists and therapy, the author argues for over-the-counter access to SSRIs for individuals 25 and older, as a safe, effective, and inexpensive treatment option. This would require an SSRI manufacturer to engage with the FDA and invest in the necessary resources for a prescription-to-OTC switch, potentially providing a solution to the public health crisis of mental health in the United States.