The author reviews recent research into the increased prescribing & usage of antidepressants over the past decade, & discusses existing evidence regarding the impact (if any) it has had on public health. He reports the findings of his own study investigating whether there was any public health benefit from the dramatic increase in antidepressant prescribing in Australia, & presents evidence of a beneficial impact of antidepressant prescribing on suicide rates. (15 refs)