Depression diagnosis rising in Leicestershire
THE number of people being diagnosed with depression is soaring in Leicestershire - with one in every nine adults now known to be suffering from the disorder.
The latest figures from the NHS reveal that there are currently 104,366 people across our area with a formal diagnosis of depression.
That works out as 11% of all adults registered with a GP in 2018/19.
The number is up from 95,484 in 2017/18 (11% of adults), and 71,944 people five years ago (8%).
Both the number and the rate of people known to have depression has been rising year on year.
It is unclear whether this is due to better awareness of the symptoms among the public and GPs, or whether the disorder is actually on the rise. Regardless, the figures show just how common depression is - and may even be an underestimate of the true scale of the issue.
Stephen Buckley, head of information at Mind, said: “It’s unclear whether this increase is due to more people being affected by the symptoms of depression, or more positively, increased awareness and understanding of common mental health problems among the public and GPs.
“It’s really important that people with mental health problems have access to the support they need, when they need it.”
West Leicestershire has the highest rate of depression diagnoses in our area, with 40,152 adults known to have it - 12% of all patients, or one in every eight.
The gap doesn’t necessarily mean that more people actually have depression in West Leicestershire, however - they may just be more likely to speak to their doctor about it.
Laura Peters, head of advice and information at Rethink Mental Illness said: “What the figures do indicate is that more people are seeking clinical support for their mental health, the first step of which is often making an appointment with a GP.
“This may be because in recent years public awareness and understanding of mental illness has improved significantly.
“It’s really important that people recognise the signs that something isn’t quite right, and feel comfortable asking for support with their mental health when they need it.”