Modern mental health treatments often rely on medications, but are we overlooking safer, more effective alternatives? While antidepressants can provide short-term relief, growing evidence highlights their long-term challenges—including harm to both physical and mental well-being. Micronutrients offer a promising, research-backed solution that addresses the root causes of mental health struggles without the side effects of medications.

This video presentation given by Dr. Julia Rucklidge, a distinguished world leader in the treatment of mental health issues with micronutrient supplementation, was given at the Future of Medicine Conference.

About Prof Julia Rucklidge

Professor Julia Rucklidge, is a Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Canterbury, a mental health and nutrition researcher, international TEDx and edX speaker. She co-authored the book The Better Brain: How Nutrition Will Help You Overcome Anxiety, Depression, ADHD and Stress; the first book that will tell you both how and why micronutrients can be used to alleviate mental health issues.

Professor Julia’s interest in nutrition and mental illness was ignited decades ago when her own research showed poor outcomes for children with significant psychiatric illness, despite receiving conventional treatments.

Her passion is helping people find alternative treatments for their psychiatric symptoms. She is well known for her groundbreaking research in this field and has won numerous local and international awards for her work.

About the Future of Medicine

The Future of Medicine is powered by PREKURE, Australasia’s leading provider of university-level training in preventative lifestyle medicine for individuals and professionals.

The Rise (and Risks) of Medications

In her presentation, Dr. Rucklidge explains that while medications have their place, we are becoming too reliant on them as a society. Antidepressant prescriptions have steadily increased, particularly in New Zealand. Between 2016 and 2020, antidepressant use among children aged 5 to 14 rose by 29%, with one in eight New Zealanders now taking these medications. Yet, troubling data shows antidepressants come with significant risks:

• Persistent Symptoms: A 12-year study found that 90% of patients on medications still experienced depressive symptoms 59% of the time.

• Relapse: Nearly 39% of patients relapse after two years of use.

• Side Effects: Surveys show high psychological distress, weight gain, fatigue, and even suicidal ideation in some users.

Christopher Palmer from Harvard underscores this reality: “For most disorders, these treatments don’t work long term for the majority of people.” Psychiatry has normalized this outcome, but it’s time for a change.

The Hidden Costs: Metabolic and Cellular Damage

Antidepressants like SSRIs and SNRIs can cause harm beyond what’s visible. A study of 591 patients found exponential increases in BMI, diabetes, and cardiovascular risk within just 12 months. Even more concerning, these medications damage mitochondria—the energy producers in our cells. Fluoxetine, for example, inhibits ATP synthesis, and similar effects are documented across other medications.

Instead of addressing the root cause—the medication—patients are referred to weight management programs, which often fail. The harm is real, yet few patients are informed of these risks.

Micronutrients: A Safe, Effective First-Line Treatment

The critical question is: Can micronutrients replace or delay the need for medications? Research says yes.

Micronutrients—specialized blends of clinical-strength essential vitamins and minerals—support cellular function and brain health. Studies show they provide benefits comparable to antidepressants but without the same side effects.

• Improved Outcomes: In one study, bipolar patients switching to micronutrients saw significant improvements, especially when tapering off medications.

• Reduced Harm: Micronutrients avoid weight gain, suicidal ideation, and metabolic disruption seen with medications.

This approach underscores the importance of deprescribing and cross-tapering—areas where better prescriber training is needed. Too often, micronutrients are dismissed as “expensive urine,” but the data tells a compelling story: When they are provided in the proper ratios and formats, they work. It’s no wonder 60 independent medical journal publications, including many studies carried out by Dr. Rucklidge, back the use of Hardy Nutritionals’ Daily Essential Nutrients for mental health.

Prevention: A Window of Opportunity

According to Dr. Rucklidge, the greatest opportunity to impact mental health lies in prevention—starting as early as pregnancy and childhood. Nutritional inequity during pregnancy has far-reaching consequences for brain development, IQ, and emotional health.

• Sugary drinks consumed during pregnancy reduce the child's IQ.

• Omega-3 intake improves brain development, reduces neonatal admissions, and lowers low birth weight risks.

In recent research, pregnant women taking Hardy’s micronutrients had zero cases of low birth weight compared to 10% in a group on antidepressants. This matters because low birth weight significantly increases the risks of depression, bipolar disorder, and psychosis later in life. 

Further, pregnant study participants taking Daily Essential Nutrients, found a significant reduction in depression symptoms, enhanced sleep quality, and improved global functioning. The babies were assessed after birth and were found to have improved motor control, superior autonomic stability, and enhanced habituation compared to their counterparts.

A New Approach to Mental Health

Instead of waiting for individuals to become unwell, Dr. Rucklidge believes we need to shift toward prevention and root-cause solutions. Imagine a scenario where a distressed individual is referred to a health coach or provided with micronutrients, delaying or avoiding medications altogether. This could prevent lifelong dependency and harm.

Micronutrients are a proven part of the solution. Unlike medications, they:

• Improve sleep, resilience, and emotional regulation.

• Avoid harmful side effects like weight gain, fatigue, and metabolic disruption.

The Bottom Line

As the saying goes, “When a flower doesn’t bloom, you fix the environment in which the flower grows—not the flower.” To address mental health effectively, we must focus on prevention, nutrition, and minimizing harm. Micronutrients offer a safe, effective alternative to medications and should be considered as a first-line treatment for mental health.

Learn more about how clinically proven micronutrients can support your health at HardyNutritionals.com.

About Hardy Nutritionals®

Hardy Nutritionals® multivitamin-mineral products are powered by our proprietary NutraTek™ mineral delivery technology, which combines each mineral with specialized organic molecules—just like nature—to optimize absorption and distribution to body cells. Our flagship supplement, Daily Essential Nutrients, is widely considered to be the most research-backed micronutrient treatment.