POLL OF THE DAY: Are doctors overprescribing antidepressants?
The Daily Mail is running a reader poll asking whether doctors in England are overprescribing antidepressants, following NHS figures showing a record 9.1 million patients were prescribed the drugs in the past year. The issue matters because it points to a sharp rise in diagnosed mental health problems such as depression and anxiety since the pandemic, and raises questions about whether medication is being used appropriately to address wider social and personal difficulties rather than clinical illness.
One in seven people in England received an antidepressant prescription last year, a rise of more than 15 per cent over five years, with usage highest in North Cumbria and South Yorkshire and almost double the rate seen in wealthier parts of London. Dr John Read, professor of clinical psychology at the University of East London, described the trend as an "epidemic of overprescribing" and said GPs were increasingly expected to treat broader life problems with medication. In the previous day's poll on whether the Government is doing enough to protect children online, 92 per cent of more than 3,000 respondents said no.
- Record 9.1 million people in England prescribed antidepressants last year.
- Prescriptions up over 15% in five years; usage varies sharply by region.
- Expert warns of an "epidemic of overprescribing" for life problems.
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Doctors in England hand out more prescriptions for antidepressants than almost anywhere else in Europe, and new NHS figures show that number has hit a record high, with roughly one in seven people in the country having been prescribed one in the past year. The rise, up more than 15 per cent over five years, has been most pronounced in areas such as North Cumbria and South Yorkshire, and is notably higher than in wealthier parts of London, prompting questions about what is driving the increase.
At the centre of the debate is whether this reflects a genuine rise in mental illness, better diagnosis and reduced stigma around seeking help, or whether GPs are reaching for medication to deal with problems, such as stress, loneliness or financial hardship, that may not be strictly clinical in nature. Some experts, including academics who study prescribing patterns, argue the trend amounts to overuse of drugs for issues that might be better addressed through other kinds of support.
The Daily Mail's poll invites readers to give their own view on whether prescribing has gone too far, adding to a wider public conversation about mental health, the pressures on GP services, and how the NHS should respond to rising demand for psychological support.