Our Correspondent, Wales On Sunday
DOCTORS in Wales last year gave out more prescriptions for depression than there are people in the nation, according to startling new figures.
Experts fear the current economic climate may be tipping people into a spiral of depression, while mental health campaigners have warned of the dangers of GP over-prescribing.
A total of 3.5 million prescriptions were issued in Wales in 2010, in a population of three million people.
By contrast in Scotland in the same year, 4.3 million prescriptions were issued among a population of 5.2 million. In England the most recent figures for 2009 there were 39.1 million prescriptions compared to a 52.5 million population.
As well as having a higher level of prescriptions relative to population, Wales has also experienced the biggest increase in prescriptions in the UK, up nearly 70% in eight years, compared to . . . . .
Experts fear the current economic climate may be tipping people into a spiral of depression, while mental health campaigners have warned of the dangers of GP over-prescribing.
A total of 3.5 million prescriptions were issued in Wales in 2010, in a population of three million people.
By contrast in Scotland in the same year, 4.3 million prescriptions were issued among a population of 5.2 million. In England the most recent figures for 2009 there were 39.1 million prescriptions compared to a 52.5 million population.
As well as having a higher level of prescriptions relative to population, Wales has also experienced the biggest increase in prescriptions in the UK, up nearly 70% in eight years, compared to . . . . .
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