Mind is a mental health charity based in England and Wales. For several years, their information on antidepressants has included a warning that sexual side effects may continue after stopping an SSRI or SNRI – Post SSRI Sexual Dysfunction (PSSD).
We recently contacted Mind after noticing a change to the wording. See the emails below.
**********
From: RxISK <rxiskinfo@gmail.com>
Sent: 23 June 2021 09:31
To: Supporter Relations <supporterrelations@mind.org.uk>
Subject: Side Effects Information
Dear Mind,
We noticed a recent change in your information regarding sexual side effects of antidepressants.
At the beginning of March 2021, your website said:
“Sometimes these side effects persist after you’ve come off the drug, and might continue indefinitely. If you experience this, you might want to report it using the Yellow Card Scheme.”
It now says:
“Sometimes these side effects may continue after you’ve come off the drug, possibly for some time. If your side effects last for a while, you might want to report them using the Yellow Card Scheme.”
We wondered why this might have changed, particularly as your website says the page was published in September 2020 and wasn’t due to be revised until 2023.
Our reason for asking is that we get a lot of enquires from patients with post-SSRI sexual dysfunction who are seeking information on Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD), so this change of wording could be important to know about.
Best regards,
The RxISK Team
Making medicines safer for all of us.
**********
On 25 June 2021, we received a reply saying that our email had been passed to the Information Team who manage the information on those pages. They replied to us on 30 June 2021.
**********
From: Info Team Queries <internalinfo@mind.org.uk>
To: “rxiskinfo@gmail.com” <rxiskinfo@gmail.com>
Date: Jun 30, 2021, 10:53 AM
Subject: Fw: Side Effects Information
Dear The RxISK Team,
Many thanks for your email about our information on antidepressants.
I’ve now had a chance to speak to the editor about this page.
The last time this page was updated in full was September 2020 – which the date stamp indicates – with a small update to the information on sexual side effects made in March 2021. These updates focused mainly on making the language around certain side effects inclusive for different gender identities.
The specific changes in the line you highlight were to do with clarity of language, primarily that the word ‘indefinitely’ was unclear English. This is rather than being driven by any new research in this area.
Upon reflection, it may be worth reviewing our updated language to ensure it sufficiently highlights the possibility of permanent loss of sexual function. We will research and revise this accordingly.
I hope this answers your query and thanks for raising it with us.
Kind regards,
Adam
The Information Team
**********
Disappointing
Given the considerable effort that patients with post-SSRI sexual dysfunction (PSSD) have made in terms of campaigning for better warnings and greater awareness of the condition, the changes that Mind have made are disappointing.
In their email, Mind suggested that they might review this change. However, at the time of publishing this blog post, no further changes have been made.
Mind’s page on side effects of antidepressants can be found on the link provided. See the section titled “Sexual problems”.
tim says
MIND Website: Search Facility: 14th September 2021. Search Results:
You searched for PSSD. No Results Found. PSSD (0).
You searched for PGAD. No Results Found. PGAD (0).
You searched for AKATHISIA. No Results Found. AKATHISIA (0).
My emphasis).
Was this helpful?
susanne says
Advice to readers re drugs
Letter to MIND . Acknowledgement says they will try to reply in 5 days Will post response if any.
Wed, Sep 15, 4:29 PM (1 day ago)
to supporterservices
Hello
I would be grateful if you could let me know how the information MIND publishes on drugs is drawn up? eg is the college of psychiatrists/pharmacists for example involved? How can readers make sure the information is reliable.
Thanks in anticipation of your help
Regards
Susanne
susanne says
Baby steps towards an answer
1:15 PM (5 hours ago)
Good afternoon Susanne,
I hope you are keeping well
Thank you for reaching out to us. I have just passed along your email to our dedicated Information team. One of the team should be able to get back in touch directly to help with your query. If you did have any further questions you can email them directly at mindinfoteam@mind.org.uk.
Please don’t hesitate to get back in touch if there is anything else that we can help with in the meantime. Make sure to take care and have a lovely week
Best wishes,
Trini Chan
Supporter Relations
annie says
SLAP
Slap is Cockney slang for Make-up, especially heavy make-up..
Clare Gerada: From clap to slap—general practice in crisis
BMJ 2021; 374 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n2224 (Published 14 September 2021)Cite this as: BMJ 2021;374:n2224
https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n2224
Without GPs the NHS would collapse under the pressure of work and rising costs, and patients would be lost in a sea of endless choices and dilemmas. Yet, despite decades of research showing the benefit of GPs in improving the nation’s health, reducing costs, and delivering equitable, cost effective care,2 general practice is at risk of falling over. This will be to the detriment of us all: specialists, generalists, and most importantly our patients.
recovery&renewal
@recover2renew
Hmm … VERY interesting … Mentions use of #PHQscreeners (#PHQ9 & #GAD7 – and first 2 Question versions).. and persuading people that they ‘are #depressed’… that #antidepressants should be encouraged for elderly and ‘work very well’
8.00 minutes in
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wst1r6CUaXs
Old-age psychiatrist dealing out antidepressants and why they don’t respond???
AntiDepAware
@AntiDepAware
“A Newry schoolboy who tragically took his own life had been prescribed up to a 700% increase of controversial antidepressant drugs in the months leading up to his death.”
@VoiceStephen
“There may be more suicidal ideations if thoughts are there, but they have not been linked to completed suicides,” said Dr Cassidy.
https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/tragic-schoolboy-was-prescribed-huge-increase-in-anti-depressants-40856052.html
Paul John Scott
@pauljohnscott
the refusal to publicize akathisia makes it hard to take suicide awareness campaigns very seriously
MISSD
@MISSDFoundation
Many #medications cause suicidal thoughts, actions, & #suicide. But orgs w/ $$ pharma ties refuse to publicize #akathisia to save lives. MISSD calls on @afspnational to help prevent avoidable deaths by taking akathisia out of the darkness. Get the facts at http://missd.co
“General practice is at risk of falling over” –
Malcharist
A novel by Paul John Scott
https://samizdathealth.org/malcharist/
A closely-observed, panoramic thriller about medical science gone wrong, and the people who make dangerous pills seem safe.
tim says
Monday 20th September 2021.
INTERNATIONAL AKATHISIA AWARENESS DAY.
I don’t suppose MIND will be contributing to increased akathisia awareness, nor can it be expected that mainstream media will feature this vital public health message. Wall to wall daily broadcasts on ‘Mental Health’. No balance re ADRs to ‘treatments’.
susanne says
We won’t hear a squeak out of them Tim. £4,186,000 in grants from government – shuts them up )
CHARITY COMMISSION
FOR ENGLAND AND WALEs
MIND (THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR MENTAL HEALTH)
Activities – how the charity spends its money
We provide information and support, campaign to improve policy and attitudes and, in partnership with independent local Minds, develop and provide local services.
Income and expenditure
Data for financial year ending 31 March 2020
Total income:
£58,279,000
Donations and legacies £26.47m
Charitable activities £13.83m
Other trading activities £17.74m
Investments £234.00k
Other £0
Total expenditure:
£59,949,000
Raising funds £21.63m
Charitable activities £38.32m
Other £0
-£825,000 investments gains (losses)
Total income includes £4,186,000 from 12 government grant(s)
People
Graphic to accompany people data
775 Employee(s)
14 Trustee(s)
4589 Volunteer(s)
Employees with total benefits over £60,000
Number of employees
£60k to £70k 5
£70k to £80k 2
£80k to £90k 3
£90k to £100k 3
£120k to £130k 1
Fundraising
The charity raises funds from the public. It works with professional fundraisers and commercial participators with agreements in place.
Trading
One or more trustees are also directors of the subsidiaries
annie says
recovery&renewal
@recover2renew
“NHS data reveal that nearly 27,000 children are being prescribed #antidepressants each month, up more than 8% t from 2019. While most are teenagers, 25 a month are aged six or under, and more than 1,000 are aged 7 – 11.”
Hmm…
Number of children in A&E with serious mental health issues jumps 50 per cent since start of pandemic
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/09/19/number-children-ae-serious-mental-health-issues-jumps-50-per/
NHS data reveal that nearly 27,000 children are being prescribed antidepressants each month, up more than eight per cent from 2019. While most are teenagers, 25 a month are aged six or under, and more than 1,000 are aged seven to 11.
Paul Farmer, the chief executive of the mental health charity Mind, has written to the Health Secretary, Sajid Javid, calling for extra funding in order not to “betray the next generation”.
Landmark moment as antidepressant prescriptions top 50 million
Tuesday, 30 July 2013
Mind comments on new figures released today showing that prescriptions for antidepressants have topped 50 million a year for the first time.
https://www.mind.org.uk/news-campaigns/news/landmark-moment-as-antidepressant-prescriptions-top-50-million/
New figures released today by the Health and Social Care Information Centre show that prescriptions for antidepressants have topped 50 million a year for the first time (1).
Mind’s Chief Executive Paul Farmer said:
“Antidepressant prescription figures continue on an upward trend. If this means more people feel able to come forward and seek help then this is a positive sign. However, it is unlikely to be the only reason and it’s time we examined closely why we are continually seeing such dramatic, persistent year-on-year increases. Antidepressants prescriptions have been rising at a considerable pace for many years now and show no signs of stopping.
We need to better understand exactly how many people are taking antidepressants, for how long and whether they are receiving other treatment alongside medication, as recommended in NICE guidance. We know that many people struggle to access alternatives to medication such as talking therapies.
Recent figures show that, despite the government’s investment in the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme, in some parts of the country people still wait months for an appointment to access talking treatments such as counselling. This is not acceptable as the true scale of unmet need is becoming clearer.
We must remember that while antidepressants can be very effective for some, they are not the solution for everyone and they should never be used as a first-line treatment for mild depression.
The World Health Organisation predicts that by 2020, depression will be the second leading cause of disability throughout the world. As we near this next landmark it’s important that GPs are prepared and have a full range of treatment options available for patients experiencing depression.”
(1) The total number of prescriptions dispensed in 2012 was 50,167,201 for all types of antidepressants up 7.5 per cent on 2011 (when totals were 46,677,813). The cost of antidepressant prescription was £211,145,435 in 2012. Health and Social Care Information Centre, Prescriptions Dispensed in the Community, Statistics for England (2002-2012) www.hscic.gov.uk/catalogue/PUB11291
annie says
Assisted dying
Medics urged to drop opposition to assisted dying before crucial vote
Exclusive: more than 100 leading doctors call for British Medical Association to adopt neutral stance to law change
Read the doctors’ letter here
Andrew Gregory Health editor
Tue 14 Sep 2021 06.00 BST
Medics are being urged to drop their opposition to assisted dying before a landmark vote on the issue by Britain’s biggest doctors’ union.
As its members prepare to debate the issue at their annual representative meeting on Tuesday, the British Medical Association (BMA), which represents 150,000 doctors, is facing calls to adopt a neutral stance. It has opposed legalising assisted dying since 2006.
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/sep/14/medics-urged-to-drop-opposition-to-assisted-dying-before-crucial-vote
Trudo Lemmens
@TrudoLemmens
#MAID #BillC7 is an affront to equality. We urge MPs to reject it & discuss how it puts Canadians w mental illness at risk
MAID bill is an affront to equality
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2021/03/11/maid-bill-is-an-affront-to-equality.html
In under five years, Canada has reneged on the compromise reached to limit MAID to those at the end of life. It will now extend MAID to those with mental illness with almost no legislative study or debate. All this has happened during a global pandemic, when people with disabilities are fighting to stay alive. If Bill C-7 is adopted, Canada can no longer claim to be a progressive country committed to protecting the rights of all its members when it devalues disabled Canadians so profoundly.
We hope that we will look back on this bill as a serious blight on Canada’s human rights record — along with other shameful practices we have inflicted on disabled lives. The question is: how many disabled lives will this realization cost?
Let there be no doubt in anyone’s mind, that this could come to pass in the UK.
Justin Oxley says
There appears to be quite a number of studies completed where Saffron has shown similar efficacy with other more well established and popular antidepressants. Given that the nature of the symptoms that most people present with currently are usually do to normal life stress and grief I am puzzled as to why a safer herbal approach to treatment of these conditions isn’t alot more common. There are a number of plant derived medicines which have been shown to help alleviate many of the symptoms where currently the automatic response is to prescribe an SSRI. Wouldn’t it be a sensible thing to encourage the use of safe herbal remedies in the majority of cases for treatment mild to moderate depression ?
https://www.hmpgloballearningnetwork.com/site/pcn/article/saffron-effective-some-antidepressants
There are quite a number of safe herbal options that will work very well for insomnia. It seems reckless to continue to prescribe SSRIs for such conditions when there are herbal remedies that work perfectly well.
susanne says
Cambridge University Press
Home>Journals>BJPsych Open>Volume 7 Supplement S1: Abstracts
BJPsych Open
Audit to assess discussion of sexual dysfunction for new patients entering a community mental health recovery service
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 18 June 2021
Yasmin Abbasi
Dina Robertson
Amarachi Anosike
Margaret Pearson,
Kevin Pankhurst
and
Jane Perera
HTML view is not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.
Aims
Sexual dysfunction should be enquired about as a symptom of mental health disorders and as side effects of commonly used psychotropic drugs. We audited against NICE guidelines the record of sexual dysfunction discussion at initial assessment and follow-up by the community mental health recovery service (CMHRS).
Background
Research reports that sexual dysfunction occurs more often in individuals with serious mental illnesses including depression and schizophrenia. Sexual dysfunction is also a reported side effect of antidepressant and antipsychotic medications. NICE guidelines recommend assessment of biological symptoms of mental health disorders and discussion of potential side effects of treatments being considered prior to initiation and at follow-up.
Method
Our sample consisted of 71 patients, all new patient assessments from referrals made to CMHRS between January 1st and March 31st 2019.
We reviewed all initial assessment and follow-up electronic notes and any correspondence generated from these meetings.
Result
Our results showed that no record was made of sexual dysfunction as present or absent by health care professionals (HCPs) completing initial assessment or follow-up.
We surveyed the HCPs from the team and observed a high level of confidence in discussing sexual dysfunction and high self report of this discussion being conducted.
Conclusion
Our audit results show no records of the discussion of sexual dysfunction, we held to the principal that in absence of record the discussion did not take place. Our survey results suggested that HCPs were confident they do assess for sexual dysfunction. We wondered, therefore, if HCPs would be less likely to make record in the event that symptoms are denied, recognizing that the list of potential symptoms and side effects is extensive and documentation of all negative results would be time consuming.
Our audit results may show then, that sexual dysfunction is not present in any of the sample; however this would contrast to research findings of higher than average rates of sexual dysfunction in groups with serious mental illness and those using antidepressants or antipsychotics.
We propose further assessment is needed for the disparity between our and recognised rates of sexual dysfunction.
We propose the standard that recording ‘absence of biological symptoms’ of mental health disorders or recorded supply of medicine information leaflets are adequate record. We also made suggestions for training and recording to assist HCPs initial assessment.
ANON says
Whatever the response, they have no idea or clue how certain drugs impact areas of the brain and how it impacts the systems of the body.
Their conclusions are incompetent and farcical and of course, they will always put the blame on the individuals mental health.
‘Non-culpable’ ~ It is never the medicines fault: a caveat that is placed on all medicines – it’s the flavor of the century!