Antidepressants, primary care, and adult mental health services in England during COVID-19, Lancet Psychiatry

The National Health Service (NHS) of England publishes monthly data on national appointment1 and prescribing activity2 in general practice. The total number of appointments in this setting from April 1, 2020, to Sept 30, 2020, was 122 250 549, a 16 · 51% decrease from the corresponding period in 2019 (146 432 604). This period in 2020 comprises all the data available to date following the first UK COVID-19 lockdown, which began on March 23, 2020. The number of antidepressant prescriptions made in general practice between April 1, 2020, and Sept 30, 2020, was 38 609 032, 3 · 94% higher than the corresponding period in 2019 (37 144 303). Since child and adolescent mental health services take responsibility for antidepressant prescribing in children, these prescriptions were received by adults.
Source: Current Awareness Service for Health (CASH) - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news