Is it healthy for 8 million adults in England to be taking antidepressants?
Is it healthy for 8 million adults in England to be taking antidepressants?
According to data on NHS prescriptions, 8.3 million adults in England took antidepressants in its 2021-22 reporting period — up from 7.9 million in the previous year (a 5% rise).
This is now the sixth year in a row that the numbers have risen. Women are twice more likely than men to be prescribed antidepressants.
There was a larger proportional increase among young people: 8% among 10 to 19 year-olds.
Talk or medicate?
The debate continues over the value of therapies vs medication in treating cases of depression and anxiety. NICE (the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) has recommended exercise and therapy over antidepressants for milder cases, as well as group classes in meditation, CBT and individual counselling.
But other mental health groups have argued that it’s important for there to be a range of options to suit different circumstances, seeing antidepressants as a vital part of the support offering: drugs shouldn’t be stigmatised as the ‘quick fix’ option, they say.
Early interventions
EAPA UK chair Eugene Farrell said: “The rise in antidepressant prescriptions may well reflect changing attitudes and more awareness and openness in society generally. People feel more able to go to their GP and admit they’re having problems.
“But we also have to take into account the pressures on the NHS. Access to therapies is limited and involves waiting lists that just don’t work for people experiencing a psychological crisis.
“There needs to be more attention to how so many of us get to that stage in the first place. People need to be able to access support, have someone to talk to much earlier rather than waiting until mental health is a problem needing immediate action. This is the next step in improving the mental health of the nation — making it normal to talk about worries and problems, getting support from professionals like those working for EAPs whenever needed.”