A record 9.1 million patients in England were prescribed antidepressants in the last 12 months, marking a more than 15% increase over the past five years. This surge means one in seven people in England received the medication, coinciding with a notable rise in mental health issues such as depression and anxiety since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Data reveals a significant regional disparity in prescription rates. North Cumbria and South Yorkshire show the highest usage, with rates nearly double those found in affluent areas of London.
Dr. John Read, professor of clinical psychology at the University of East London, characterized the figures as an "epidemic of overprescribing." He suggested that physicians are increasingly expected to address broader social and life challenges through medication, contributing to the rise in prescriptions.
In a recent poll, 92% of Daily Mail readers voted that the government is not doing enough to protect children online, while 8% said it was.