St Helens in Top 10 highest rates of antidepressant prescriptions

Last month, social change organsation, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) published a report that looked into the connection between economic insecurity and poor mental health.

Using pre-pandemic data from January 2020, the authors found that antidepressant prescriptions are around twice as high in the most-deprived places of England as in the least-deprived places.

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St Helens was name din the top ten communities with the highest rates of antidepressant prescriptions (Image: Joseph Rowntree Foundation)

Deprivation levels linked with poor mental health 

Locating the areas with the highest usage of antidepressants, St Helens was named in the top ten communities for prescriptions per 100,000 people.

As all these areas are clustered around the North of England, JRF authors suggest that higher levels of deprivation, unstable housing, and unreliable earnings can all culminate towards poor mental health.

St Helens was named as the 26th most deprived area in England in 2019 (Image: St Helens Council)

High deprivation levels in St Helens

This seems to lie true in St Helens, with the government’s Indices of Deprivation classifying the borough as the 26th most deprived area in the country; with 29 neighbourhoods classed as being in the 10 percent most deprived in England.

With high levels of deprivation, and therefore a higher likelihood of lower incomes, insecure work, and unstable housing, this suggests how certain areas of St Helens may be more susceptible to poor mental health.

In extreme cases of mental health issues, figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) reported that 32 suicides were registered in St Helens in 2021 - although many of these are believed to have been registered late due to disruption caused by the pandemic.

With a higher suicide rate than the national average between 2019 and 2021, this again suggests that higher levels of deprivation can contribute towards more serious mental health issues.

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While JRF data shows high antidepressant usage in 2020, a recent ONS survey saw respondents rating higher life satisfaction scores in St Helens (Image: St Helens Star)

More optimistic statistics

Despite the higher deprivation levels in St Helens, a recent ONS survey found more optimistic statistics from people living in the borough.

Asking residents to rate their level of life satisfaction, happiness, and anxiety, St Helens came out as one of the higher-scoring boroughs in Merseyside.

While this data only comes from people who took part in the ONS survey, it does highlight differences in wellbeing and a different outlook on life that people have across the St Helens borough.

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St Helens Council say they are working to address inequalities, financial hardship and poor mental health (Image: St Helens Council)

What does the council say

Ruth du Plessis, Director of Public Health for St Helens Borough Council, said: “We are concerned about the high rate of anti-depressant prescribing, which as this study suggests has possible links to deprivation.  

“There are wide inequalities within our borough, and although we have low rates of unemployment, many working individuals and families are experiencing financial hardship, struggling with the cost-of-living crisis. 

“In 2021 we established a local Inequalities Commission to bring together partners and local people to discuss and agree what can be done to improve the things that matter the most, such as fair wages, housing and food poverty. 

“Our #StHelensTogether approach involves local partners taking action to provide cost of living support to families and businesses and we have held events across the borough to provide advice to those struggling to pay their bills. We have several local food banks and pantries where communities are coming together to help everyone to feed their families. 

“We also have support in place for people struggling with their mental health and we have ‘link workers’ to help people find out about the support that is available to them. 

“And in recognition of the cost-of-living emergency, the council and local organisations recently wrote directly to the Chancellor asking for fair funding for our services, a fair benefits system, free prescriptions for vulnerable patients, ensuring adequate food for school children, support for debt and welfare, tackling loan sharks and securing warm homes for the vulnerable.” 

Further help and support

For practical daily tips on how to look after your mental health visit www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/. This resource also has advice on how to get more help if needed. 

Find a 24-hour crisis line and information about local services www.sthelens.gov.uk/article/1692/Find-mental-health-support 

For advice on money, improving your lifestyle, community support and learning new skills contact local link workers on www.sthelenswellbeing.org.uk/services/social-wellbeing  

For cost-of-living support go to www.sthelens.gov.uk/sthelenstogether 

To read the full Joseph Rowntree Foundation report, you can visit this link.