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Slump 'drives thousands to depression pills'
Sophie Goodchild, Health and Social Affairs Correspondent30 Jul 2009
The recession is being blamed for a big rise in Londoners taking anti-depressants.
Doctors in the capital handed out nearly 3.27million prescriptions last year - a rise of 188,252 in 12 months.
Figures also show that the NHS drugs bill for treating mental health problems such as depression and anxiety is £24.3million since the beginning of last year. This is despite a reduction in the cost of anti-depressants under an NHS deal with the Government.
One mental health charity said it was not surprised about the rise given the stresses caused by the recession. But it emphasised that pills were not the only answer to depression.
The figures from the NHS Information Centre cover the 31 London primary care trusts, and refer to a wide range of anti-depressants including Prozac and Seroxat. They show that 3.27million prescriptions were given in the 12 months to April this year, up from 3.08million the previous year.
But they also show variations within London on prescription numbers. Sutton and Merton PCT spent the most in the last financial year - £1.5million on 172,043 prescriptions for patients displaying symptoms of anxiety and depression. The lowest was Kensington and Chelsea with 61,835 prescriptions at a cost of £558,089.
London clinics have reported a doubling in the number of people seeking help for recession-related mental illness. Ministers are offering psychological help to those hit by redundancy and debt - psychotherapy centres will be established in every primary care trust by the end of next year.
But the rise in anti-depressant use will fuel concerns that Britons are resorting to pills to solve their problems and that doctors are too eager to prescribe anti-depressants.
Mental health charities today warned that the NHS needed to offer more drug-free therapy, including sessions such as cognitive behaviour therapy where people are encouraged to use positive thinking.
Victoria Walsh, campaigns manager of charity Rethink, said: "Given the financial climate and associated stresses, we are not surprised to see an increase in the number of anti-depressants prescribed.
"However, this shows there is a need for more psychological therapies as anti-depressants alone are not the best way to deal with depression. The Government's plan to expand the availability of talking therapies is welcome, but must be backed with resources."
Guidance from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence says GPs should not prescribe pills for those with mild depression.
Reader views (1)
3.27million prescriptions! That is half the population of the capital feeling absolutely nothing!
- Jimbob, Kensington, 30/07/2009 08:31
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