[LatteLazy]

We're basically in the middle of an long epidemic of mental illness in the West. Suicide is the leading cause of death in some age\sex groups.

Existing drugs are low efficacy even in ideal cases, and even lower when you look at how they're used in the real world. Then you have to try and factor in side effects.

These are the factors I think drive this decision.

It's worth noting as well that whether and how severe the various drugs under consideration actually cause the poor outcomes you list remains a matter of debate. Maybe they don't, maybe they do and it's worse than the current worst case prediction. We won't know until exactly these studies are completed...

Full disclosure, I have had severe depression long term though I've been doing a lot better for the last 5 years or so.