@bosmac I live with a physician (retired) who sometimes is much the same as your son. He is often mistrustful of other medical professionals but there is a big however coming here. When he knows that something is not "right" such as a recent infection he saw on himself after a tick bite he went straight to his primary care provider and put on antibiotics. When he is prescribed medication he is compliant and takes the full course.

Whatever is happening with your son is as real as the infection I described above. This isn't a few days of feeling sad but a very real health problem that has terrible consequences for himself and his family. I know you know that and so it's good that your family got this out in the open together yesterday.

My husband has seen the worst of the worst during his career as a pathologist and medical examiner. Your son could say the same but that doesn't mean his response to antidepressants or whatever course his GP recommends will be the same. I do want to encourage you and your family with this. Antidepressant medication is not "addictive". (See below) The medication does not check the boxes for addiction. field).

Antidepressant medication can be physically difficult during the withdrawal period but when a person works with their doctor and titrates slowly, slowly down from the medication when it is time to go "off" the medication those withdrawal symptoms are minimized.

Cleveland Clinic: Addiction

-- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/6407-addiction

I hope your son will see his GP as promised and will see a mental health therapist who can help him through this period of depression - this will also help him in the future know the signs of relapse for depression.

I am sharing the above advice because I've had several episodes of depression during my life time. The first and most severe episode occurred in my mid-20's (I'm not 72 years old). Each episode has been less severe from the previous ones because I know the signs and what to do for myself when I start to detect symptoms. A psychiatrist once explained to me that I need to treat this as a "chronic" condition much like a physical health disease. I wish the depression would go away forever and when it returns I remember the words of my psychiatrist.

Will you let me know what happens with your son?