BRIGHTON has seen a rise in the number of antidepressants prescribed by doctors over the last two years, according to new figures.

Leading mental health charity Mind has suggested an increase in the number of prescriptions across England could be a sign of worsening mental health generally.

Figures from the Open Prescribing Service show 452,528 prescriptions for antidepressants were given out in the NHS Brighton and Hove Clinical Commissioning Group area in the year to March – a monthly average of 115.4 prescriptions per 1,000 patients.

This was an increase of four per cent from the year before, when an average of 110.5 were given per 1,000 patients, and an increase of eight per cent from 2019 to 2020.

Antidepressants are commonly prescribed to improve mental health but may also be taken for conditions not directly related to this such as certain types of long-term pain.

However, the story is similar for selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs), the most commonly prescribed antidepressants for mental health conditions in England.

These are thought to increase the level of serotonin in the brain, and are often used to treat depression and anxiety.

SSRI prescriptions increased from a monthly average of 55.8 per 1,000 patients in Brighton and Hove in the year to March 2020 to 59.3 in 2022 – a rise of eight per cent.

In Brighton, SSRIs were prescribed 232,730 times last year – equating to 19,394 a month.

These figures are for the number of times medication has appeared on prescriptions, but do not show the quantity of medication given, and multiple prescriptions can be given to the same patient.

Mind says the pandemic may have caused a spike in conditions such as depression, but that many of those suffering were reluctant to seek help at the time.

The charity's head of information, Stephen Buckley, said: “Recent data on increased prescription rates suggests people are once again asking for help from their GP.

"The increase in prescriptions could indicate the prevalence of poor mental health is likely to have increased, which seems likely, and echoes our own research."

Across England, antidepressants appeared on 83 million prescriptions in the year to March, 45 million of which were for SSRIs.

This was an increase from 79 million and 43 million respectively the year before.

Mr Buckley said the increase could also be the product of more people coming forward for treatment.

"The rise in antidepressant prescriptions dispensed could also reflect a wider shift in social attitudes, as stigma surrounding mental health decreases, and awareness and understanding improves,” he added.

An NHS England spokesman said: “We know the pandemic has taken a toll on the nation’s mental health, with record numbers of people coming forward for mental health care and NHS staff are working hard to meet this demand.

“Decisions about the best treatment options are made by clinicians jointly with their patients, and medication can be effective when used alongside psychological therapies such as talking therapy.

"It’s vital people continue to come forward for any support they may need.”