“Antidepressant use in England soars.” The Guardian. Why not offer some other solutions instead?

Published: January 5, 2012
“Antidepressant use in England soars.” The Guardian. Why not offer some other solutions instead?

Editors note:
I have just read the following article and once again I am shocked to see there seems to be no other solutions offered other than medication.  ”Financial uncertainty thought to be a factor” is the only nod to possible causation of this so called ‘epidemic of illness’. Surely being poor doesn’t make you more like to ‘catch it’ like a virus.
Yes financial uncertainly is certainly traumatic as it brings about many other traumas such as loss of self-esteem, family arguments, fear of losing homes, inability to keep up lifestyle and just general  day to day unhappiness.
Surely some therapy (such as CBT that helps people look at their problems in a different more solvable  way) that helps people to realise that life is not all about money, status and power and that valuing friends, family and community and the simple pleasures that can lead to fulfilment would be much more appropriate.
It really isnt rocket science that simply speaking to people and finding solutions for their problems other than medicating them  would be far more helpful wouldn’t it? Medication can help short term to get through the worst but long term use is ineffectual, addictive  and expensive and simple masking the underlying issues. And once people have been labelled with a ‘mental illness’ they are more likely to feel stigmatised and become inevitably long term ill.
Its good to talk not simply medicate. 

Antidepressant use in England soars.

• Prescriptions rise by more than a quarter in three years
• Depression costing economy nearly £11bn a year
• Financial uncertainty thought to be factor

Prozac pill held between finger and thumb

Prescriptions for antidepressants such as Prozac have increased from 34m in 2007-08 to 43.4m in 2010-11.

The use of antidepressants has risen by more than a quarter in England in just three years, amid fears that more people are suffering fromdepression 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.”

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/dec/30/antidepressant-use-england-soars

Read more about those against overuse of medixcation here: http://www.elemental.org.uk

http://www.recoverywirral.com/2011/11/elemental-a-great-website-and-community-promoting-mental-health-and-wellbeing/

 

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About the Author

Phoenix is the editor of this site and was diagnosed with bipolar twenty years ago. In between 8 periods of illness and hospitalisation she trained as a garden designer and was a awarded an RHS Diploma, gained a first class degree in Cultural Studies and a Certificate in Education that enables her to lecture in Recovery in Mental Health to psychiatric nurse students and mental health professionals at universities. Phoenix leads a diverse life which she attributes to Wellness Recovery Action Planning and all aspects of Recovery. In the last 2 years she performed stand up comedy. Laughter truly is the best medicine! Now she is concentrating on being involved in improving conditions for inpatients and service receivers trustwide. And training in WRAP, Recovery Star and the new Advanced Statement and some gardening for health. Also with some great new art projects.