Antidepressants can be helpful but can’t fix chronic stress caused by social problems like debt, poverty, racism or domestic violence.

Too many people are being prescribed antidepressants to deal with stressful life events or social problems, according to researchers.

More than 14 per cent of Australians are currently taking antidepressants, one of the highest rates in the world.

Dr Matt Fisher, a senior research fellow with the University of Adelaide’s Stretton Institute, told The Guardian that Australia’s high use of antidepressants “constitutes a failed attempt to medicate away what are, in fact, social problems”.

He said while “antidepressants may be of benefit to some people suffering persistent psychosocial distress,” they should not be the default, first response.

Chronic stress, where people are exposed to an ongoing, recurrent stressor without any easy or accessible way to resolve it is a significant driver of mental distress in Australia, including depression and anxiety, Fisher says.

Fisher argues that current policies in Australia are contributing to these toxic social conditions causing chronic stress and this kind of stress cannot be medicated away.

Medical and pharmacological-focused solutions might be helpful for some but do little to help with the kind of chronic stressors that drive ill health, he says, such as toxic workplaces or insecure housing.

“The most effective, long-term response to epidemics of psychological distress is to adopt a public health approach to wellbeing promotion,” Fisher says.