A major reason for the rise of the medication side is because for many acute mental health episodes medicines, like lithium for example, are extremely effective

A major reason for the rise of the medication side is because for many acute mental health episodes medicines, like lithium for example, are extremely effective at treating the episode. Even the most anti medication psychiatrist must acknowledge that for a lot of acute mental conditions, the evidence is overwhelmingly in support of medication even if we don't understand very well their mechanisms of action. The interesting push back that is happening against medication I think is because for more chronic and long term mental health conditions, the medications we have aren't as clearly effective for everyone and as a result of their chronic nature, the types of evidence we can collect and analyze will be further limited.