There is concern children as young as seven are being prescribed Prozac-style antidepressants.

Nearly 15,000 children and teenagers were prescribed the drug last year, a 98 percent jump since 2006.

Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist Hugh Clarkson said more teenagers are asking for antidepressants because they have friends who are on them.

"Awareness of young people that these medicines do exist means they are asking for more, and it's quite hard to say no because they feel you don't understand how bad they're feeling."

He said he's concerned about the very weak evidence of their benefits.

"Treatments that we're offering don't have a strong scientific basis and there is some concern about adverse effects, which are more common in children and adolescents than they are in adults."

LISTEN ABOVE AS CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRIST HUGH CLARKSON SPEAKS TO RACHEL SMALLEY