Patients taking antidepressants up by a quarter in last six years

The number of people on anti-depressants in England has risen by nearly a quarter to 8.6 million in just six years. And the volume of prescribed antidepressants soared by 46 percent in the same period, up to 86 million items in 2022/23. Observers said the strain of the pandemic and mental health services’ struggle to meet demand may partly explain the rise. But they noted it could also be encouraging news that more people are feeling able to seek help. Lucy Schonegevel, associate director at the Rethink Mental Illness charity, said: ‘The nation’s mental health has been deeply impacted in recent years as we’ve ricocheted from a pandemic to a cost-of-living crisis. ‘Antidepressants can have a life-saving impact, but they should be offered alongside a suite of other appropriate treatments, such as talking therapies. ‘Too many children and adults struggle to access dedicated mental health support when they need it most. The Government must address this by providing services with the right level of funding.’