Last year, the number of antidepressant prescriptions dispensed in England exceeded 70 million. While these drugs can play an important role for some patients, the attitude of ‘a pill for every ill’ leads to many people taking medicine that they don’t need and suffering with their side effects.
In a bid to reduce unnecessary prescriptions, the NHS is starting to roll out effective alternatives to medicine, such as social prescriptions and link workers who give care and advice tailored to the individual. This ambitious programme employs talking therapy to resolve common mental health issues such as depression and anxiety, therefore reducing the need for expensive drugs and their side effects.
Fiona Rose Illustration 