One in seven on anti-depressants

The amount of depression-battling drugs prescribed and dispensed here was 38,478. Health Minister Michael McGimpsey revealed the level of dispensation in response to an Assembly Question.

It follows a Drug Use in Ireland and Northern Ireland 2006/2007 report that found of almost 7,000 people surveyed, those living in the Western Health and Social Services Board (WHSSB) area reported a higher prevalence rate of antidepressant use over the previous year than anywhere else on the entire island of Ireland.

A total of 9.9 per cent of adults aged 15-64 in the Western area also reported having used mood-altering drugs recently, the 2006/7 report found.

Now the Health Minister has revealed the amount of people relying on anti-depressants to cope in the North West is still alarmingly high.

The figures provided refer to the October 2009 to September 2010 period.

He stated: “Figures relate to prescriptions for anti-depressants which were dispensed by a community pharmacist or dispensing doctor, and presented for payment during the period.

“The data provided only covers drugs dispensed in primary care, as drugs prescribed and dispensed in hospital cannot be captured centrally due to the use of different hospital IT systems.

“It should be noted that antidepressant medication may be prescribed for reasons other than depression - certain antidepressants can be prescribed for pain relief, anorexia and bulimia. Information on the number of patients who have been referred for counselling is not available,” added the Minister.

The figures refer to distinct patients - patients may have had multiple items within the period but have only been counted once.