Do antidepressants ever work ?

antidepressants don't always cause suicides and it's not common. Some people do get some relief using those drugs.  But i think that, if someone is depressed, they need to work at making positive life changes - perhaps working with a therapist.

And another truth about our mental health is that it's directly related to our gut health. So if we eat crappy food, it negatively impacts our gut.  then our brain.  Lots of info about Brain Gut health online.

I've taken them most my life because of bipolar. I've found that not every medication is right for every person. They can be a huge help or harmful. The doctor will moniter the patience progress or not, make adjustments, etc. Its never good to be treated with medication without also being involved with therapy, to work on the depression issues. These medications need time in order to work to there full potential, theraputic level.

Certainly they work.  This doesn't mean the depression is cured, only that it is better.  Sometimes they get so they don't work so well anymore.  Sometimes a different drug needs to be used.  There are different antidepressants that work differently for different people, so sometimes finding the right one is hard.

Also, it is common for the patient to feel weird or sleepy for the first couple of weeks.  

Don't forget that somebody who takes antidepressants is already depressed.  If somebody on antidepressants commits suicide, it is because of the depression.

There are other factors in depression and dealing with depression too.  I have suffered depression for many years, sometimes very severe.  I have been greatly helped by practicing religion and by reading Epictetus, the philosopher.  Sunlight and exercise are also very helpful.  

not for me and those i know who took them, they just made me and a few others gain weight, and had zero effect on depression.