Antidepressants and Suicide Prevention: Lessons from Korea’s 2002 Prescription Restrictions

A recent study examines how South Korea’s 2002 limits on SSRI prescribing by primary care physicians coincided with a striking rise in national suicide rates. This episode reviews the Korean evidence alongside international research on antidepressant access and suicide trends, highlighting methodological strengths and limitations. It concludes with balanced policy implications for mental-health care that weigh risks of both overprescribing and restricted access.