? Prescriptions rise by more than a quarter in three years
? Depression costing economy nearly �11bn a year
? Financial uncertainty thought to be factor
The use of antidepressants has risen by more than a quarter in England in just three years, amid fears that more people are suffering from depression due to the economic crisis.
The number of prescriptions for antidepressants increased by 28% from 34m in 2007-08 to 43.4m in 2010-11, according to the NHS information centre.
Depression is also costing the economy nearly �11bn a year in lost earnings, NHS care and drug prescriptions.
Research by the House of Commons found the cost to the NHS of treating the illness is more than �520m a year.
People who are unable to work due to depression lose �8.97bn of potential earnings a year, while the loss of earnings from suicide is put at �1.47bn.
Jo Swinson, the Liberal Democrat MP who commissioned the research, told the Independent: "Failure to tackle depression hurts us all. It makes a misery of the lives of sufferers, costs the NHS in time and medication, and hampers business by forcing some people out of work."
Prescriptions for anti-anxiety drugs rose from just over 6m to 6.5m in the same period, an 8% jump, while prescriptions for sleeping pills rose 3% from around 9.9m to 10.2m.
The research found the north-west had the highest antidepressant use in 2010-11, with 7.2m prescriptions dispensed.
Paul Farmer, chief executive of the mental health charity Mind, said the tough economic times may have contributed to more people experiencing depression, but improved public awareness may also mean more people are seeking help.
"It's important to remember that antidepressants can be a lifeline for some people which enable them to manage their mental health problems," he said.
Emer O'Neill, chief executive of Depression Alliance, said: "These uncertain economic times are linked to an increase in the number of people with the illness."
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/dec/30/antidepressant-use-england-soars
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