Significant increase in anti-depressant prescriptions

Percentage of anti-depressant prescriptions rockets over last 5 years

It was revealed in the House of Keys yesterday that there’s been a significant rise in the number of people being prescribed anti-depressants on the Island.

Minister for Health, David Anderson was asked the question by Member for North Douglas John Houghton.

He responded by saying with the resources they currently have it’s impossible to calculate the precise number but they were able to draw up an approximate figure.

From the 2006 census they ascertained that the percentage of adults on anti-depressants stood at 17.7%.

With regards to the increase in prescribing anti-depressants over the last five years the figure now stands at 34.9%, in the UK the comparative figure is 43%.