I cannot help but feel sorry for Will. It would be my worst nightmare to be processed by American psychologists to be placed on Big Pharma's latest medications.
I view those who discourage people from taking their meds as the same as people who encourage alcoholics to "just take one drink."
In some cases doctors over prescribe to people who are suffering from situational depression, giving out medication instead of treating the root cause and finding a way to tackle the problems in somebody's life, but for others it is a medical complaint. Without knowing which category somebody falls into its grossly irresponsible to tell them they shouldn't be taking medication which in many cases quite literally keeps them alive.
Over here healthcare is not just another business, it is a public service. We grumble about the NHS but we love it too. With the NHS you don't have to second guess whether that doctor is after your wallet, or even think about it, he/she isn't.
By comparison the American healthcare system is something that, with a British perspective, appears to have something tantamount to 'Münchausen syndrome by proxy'. With the British NHS you can end up on pills all your life but there is not a business case for it. Meanwhile, in America, if you can be signed up for a smorgasbord of uppers, downers and a few off-label side orders for the rest of your days then Big Pharma is happy.
Here is one of my favourite books that describes what goes on:
http://www.amazon.com/Blood-Medicine-Blowing-Deadliest-Presc...
I've heard this particular chestnut often. In so far as I understand, if your doctor does this, they're committing malpractice. I'm not saying doctors don't do this, or someone's doctor doesn't, but this is not the norm. Not by a long shot.
(Caveat: generic mood stabilizers (used for treating bipolar disorder) that are also anticonvulsants have I've heard a bad history of not working like the brand name, First World manufactured originals.)
I've gone back and tried a few, but the only things that seem to have any positive effect are short-acting anxiety medications which I take maybe once every 2 weeks to help with a flare-up. The long-term depression is nearly gone.
I still would recommend that anyone that is in a deep depression that hasn't tried medication before try them, because it works well for most people. But if you are one of the unlucky ones that it does not work for, keep trying, as coming out the other side is definitely worth all the pain and suffering. You also get a wonderfully nice perspective and can empathize with others who are going through it, something a lot of people can't say.
A book I recommended elsewhere in this thread, http://www.amazon.com/Anatomy-Epidemic-Bullets-Psychiatric-A..., does an admirable job of researching the history and results (medical, scholarly, social and financial) of psychological drugs in the US.