DEPRESSION is behind seven trips to A&E a day at the Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals Trust, latest figures reveal.

Data from the NHS found that, in the year up to March, “feeling depressed” was a patient’s chief complaint for 2,400 attendances at hospitals in the trust - an average of seven a day.

While a chief complaint is not an official diagnosis, it is what a clinician views during a patient’s first appointment as the main reason they have sought emergency care.

Across England, 114,000 A&E attendances where a patient was initially reported as feeling depressed was recorded in 2020-21, making it the 28th most common reason for attending an emergency department.

Mental health charity Mind said it was “deeply concerning” to see so many people needing emergency care for this reason across the country.

Leila Reyburn, the charity’s policy and campaigns manager, said: “Many people have seen their mental health worsen during the pandemic, which is why it is vital the government uses the upcoming Spending Review to fund mental health services, so that people can get help early on, before they find themselves in an emergency.”

An NHS spokeswoman said: “As part of the NHS Long Term Plan, the NHS is expanding mental health services, including talking therapy services for people suffering from anxiety and depression.”

She said anyone needing help can self-refer online, contact an urgent 24/7 mental health helpline or access advice through the Every Mind Matters website.

“In addition, anyone who needs to attend A&E with mental health needs should receive expert, compassionate mental health care, with all A&E departments now equipped with specialist mental health liaison teams on-site,” the spokeswoman added.

The most common reasons for attending A&E over the last year were puncture wounds, back injuries, and coughs and sore throats.

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