Data shows antidepressant prescriptions are continually increasing in Oldham since the pandemic which the charity Mind warns could be a sign of worsening mental health.

New figures show Oldham has seen a rise in the number of antidepressants prescribed by doctors over the course of the last two years.

Figures from the Open Prescribing Service show 380,109 prescriptions for antidepressants were given out in the NHS Oldham CCG area in the year to March – a monthly average of 121.1 prescriptions per 1,000 patients.

This was an increase of 4 per cent from the year before when an average of 116.1 were given per 1,000 patients and an increase of 7 per cent from 2019-20.

Antidepressants are usually prescribed to improve mental health but may sometimes be prescribed for other conditions, for example, to treat long-term pain.

However, so-called ‘selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors' (SSRI), which are the most commonly prescribed antidepressants for mental health conditions in the country and often used to treat anxiety and depression, have also risen in Oldham.

SSRI prescriptions increased from a monthly average of 56.5 per 1,000 patients in Oldham in the year to March 2020 to 60 in 2022 – amounting to an increase of 7 per cent.

SSRIs were prescribed 188,289 times in total last year in Oldham, equating to 15,691 a month.

Nationwide, antidepressants appeared on 83 million prescriptions in the year to March, 45 million of which were for SSRIs and is an increase from the 79 million and 43 million prescribed respectively the year before.

Of the 8.3 million patients who received an antidepressant drug in 2021-22, 11,878 were children aged 10 to 14 and 180,455 were young people aged 15 to 19.

Leading mental health charity Mind has suggested the increase could be an indication that mental health problems are worsening across the country.

It said that the pandemic may have caused a spike in conditions but that many people suffering might have been 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."

However, Mr Buckley also said that the increase could be attributed to 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."

An NHS England spokesperson 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.”