Most people on antidepressants don’t need them

Correct, and also, antidepressants are used for more reasons that to remedy depression (though that may well be their primary purpose). E.g. I use them to combat GAD, though it stems from ASD.

I can tell this thread is going to be a nightmare but whatever I really want to share my experience in case there are people similar to me that need to hear this: I cannot emphasise enough how much Escitalopram (lexapro) has helped me with issues I didn't even know I had until I started taking it. At which point I realised I was living in a constant state of anxiety up to that point, and I probably should have been on it a long time ago, but I never ever thought I reached the criteria for being "medicated" so fwiw I think it's also possible to underrate your own feelings and think you don't need them when you do.

I'm a bit nervous about these articles clearly centred on the USA which seems to have an epidemic of private drug companies pushing all kinds of stuff via doctors who may or may not be getting backhanders to push certian drugs.

I'm not saying this isn't partially true in Europe but the USA definitely comes across as choosing drugs as the first resort for many things that you wouldn't in Europe.

Also, as many have found out, Prozac is cheaper than therapy or CBT which is what some people might benefit from to actually help them resolve the vicious circle of depression.