Number of children prescribed antidepressants coincide with lockdowns

The number of children being prescribed antidepressants has increased over the past 5 years, with analysis from The Pharmaceutical Journal showing peaks have coincided with Covid lockdowns. 

It was found between April 2015 and April 2020, children from the ages 0-17 who were prescribed antidepressants by a GP increased by 26 per cent with an increase in prescriptions occurring more notably during lockdowns. 

Furthermore, the analysis found an 8 per cent increase since March 2019 showing 17,902 females and 9,855 males were found to have been prescribed antidepressants when the country was locked down in March 2020.  

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Source: The Independent, 24 June 2021