The study you're referring to was done by Irving Kirsch. He's an American psychologist who specializes in the placebo effect. He found that antidepressants have no clinical significance when compared to a placebo while like you said exposing people to a host of terrible side effects.

>most if not all of them would likely have been even better off with other approaches

I hear you, but don't think you understand how incredibly debilitating anxiety and depression can be. Other approaches can be very effective, but often mental health issues make those other approaches completely inaccessible. Antidepressants aren't prescribed in order to cure problems, they're prescribed to improve quality of life, and there's no reason they can't be used in conjunction with other approaches.

I’m very sorry you know people who were negatively affected. I have narcolepsy with cataplexy as well as cPTSD. The SNRI I take daily manages my cataplexy so I don’t drop things or fall down. It also helps with the crippling depression from multiple traumas. I have tried everything from St. Johns Wort to light therapy. None of it worked. Therapy helps but therapy alone was nowhere near as effective as it plus the SNRI.

You’re welcome to refuse whatever medication you want for yourself but the fact is that everyone is different. Some of us do need medication & are much worse off without it.