A lack of mental health services in some areas of the UK is leading GPs to increasingly rely on antidepressants, rather than alternative treatments such as psychological therapy.
According to an analysis of NHS data, the use of antidepressants varies significantly by region. In the north-east of the country, around one in four people use the drugs, while in London the figure is around one in eight. On average across the country, around one in seven people – around 9 million people – are on antidepressants.
Doctors under pressure due to lack of alternatives
Experts point out that these differences are directly related to the lack of resources in poorer areas and the long wait times for psychological services. In these conditions, family doctors are often forced to prescribe medication as the only immediate solution.
Matt Hall, director at health insurance company MyHealthPal, which conducted the analysis, explains that prescribing drugs does not happen in isolation, but is influenced by what is realistically available to the patient at that moment.
According to him, in some areas of the northeast, doctors face high demand and a lack of alternative options, while waiting lists for psychological therapy can last for months. In these conditions, medications often remain the only form of immediate help, although not necessarily the best long-term solution.
Significant increase in demand for mental health services
NHS figures also show a sharp rise in demand for mental health services across the country. Last year, around 4.1 million people came into contact with these services in England, compared with 2.6 million a decade earlier.
Experts warn that this increase, combined with a lack of capacity, is putting enormous pressure on the healthcare system and directly affecting the way patients are treated. /GazetaExpress/
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