Medication is not the first recommendation for mild depression.

Medication is not the first recommendation for mild depression.

England's NICE guideline (2022) does not recommend antidepressants as a first-line option for mild depression—unless the patient specifically wants them, but not routinely. Instead, one of the options at the top of the list is regular physical activity: half an hour three days a week, ideally 150 minutes of brisk walking per week.

There is even a paper in the literature asking: is a psychiatrist who does not recommend regular exercise falling short in their medical practice?

What is discussed here applies to mild cases. Moderate and severe depression are a different matter; they require treatment.

A clip from the video "Why Does Life Feel Meaningless?" on my channel.