It s going to be a very, very challenging period over the upcoming months, said Dr. Dorian Lo, a medical doctor and president of Express Scripts Canada, the largest private claims administrator in the country. It s clear that folks are suffering.
Lo said he expects SSRI claims in 2021 to outpace pre-pandemic levels by as much as 25 per cent.
Medication can absolutely save lives
The soaring number of prescriptions places added pressure on mental health services that support first-time patients who are going through what could be the darkest time in their lives, according to advocates. To put it bluntly, people s lives are at stake. This far too often results in a suicide or suicide attempt, said Pharmacist Jen Baker, who owns Pharmasave Loyalist Pharmacy in Amherstview, Ont.