A staggering 391,603 medical card holders were on anti-depressants in 2016 – an increase of 50,000 over five years.
The increase since 2011 is "quite significant" when you take into account that overall there were fewer medical cards in circulation at the end of 2016 than there were in 2011.
The urge in anti-depressants usage raises questions over Government mental health policy, says Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Mental Health James Browne TD.
“Hopefully the level of prescribing is indicative of a lessening of stigma around mental health resulting in more people with mental health illnesses seeking help and improved diagnosis of mental health illness by the medical profession," the Deputy tells Hot Press.
“I have no doubt that doctors are properly prescribing the medication, however, I would have concerns about how many doctors feel compelled to rely on medicated solutions to treating mental illness due to the lack of availability of other services such as counselling.
“Medication can be very effective in treating mental illness but I would assume no doctor wants their patients reliant on medication in circumstances where alternative therapies might be suitable; the issue is the lack of available alternative therapies"
He adds: “It seems to me that investment in primary care counselling, or a wider provision of talk therapies, could help to either reduce the numbers on medication or compliment medicated treatment in aid of recovery.
“I also believe that when such a significant and increasing proportion of card holders are being prescribed anti-depressants we should pay it close attention and ensure that doctors have a wide range of options available to them when deciding upon the best treatment to prescribe.”