Latest ISD Scotland statistics has shown that the use of antidepressants in Edinburgh and the Lothians has increased significantly over the last five years.
Across Lothian there is a large variation between regions in the prescription of antidepressants.
The Scotland standard rate for people prescribed antidepressants is 19,564 per 100,000. Edinburgh still has a lower rate of people using antidepressants per 100,000 populations, (15,882 per 100,000) despite having the biggest increase over the last five years.
West Lothian has a higher rate using antidepressants (21,078 per 100,000) – Midlothian has a slightly higher rates (20,065 per 100,000) – East Lothian has a slightly lower rate (19,313 per 100,000)
Edinburgh has seen the biggest increase in the prescription of antidepressants with 10,465 more people being prescribed antidepressants since 2013/14.
A lack of alternative treatments (i.e. mental health waiting times) means that a lot of people will be put on antidepressants, before seeing a mental health professional.
Lothian MSP Miles Briggs said: “There will always be a place for anti-depressants on the NHS, to help people through mental health struggles, but the increase of prescription in Edinburgh and the Lothians is alarming.
“Given that adults are waiting up to two years and children sometimes up to a year to access mental health support in NHS Lothian there is potentially a link between more and more people being prescribed anti-depressants because the waiting times to see a mental health professional.
“Everyone has mental health and we need to see a cultural shift to break down the stigma around talking about how we feel and addressing underlying causes.”
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