Posted on 05/14/2007 11:02:49 AM PDT by Sleeping Beauty
The number of prescriptions for anti-depressants has hit an all-time high, a mental health charity has said.
More than 31 million were written last year - up 6% on the year before, according to Mind.
Statistics show that within this figure, prescriptions for SSRIs (Serotonin Specific Reuptake Inhibitors) including Prozac have risen by 10% from 14.7 million to 16.2 million in England.
It comes as the charity released research showing that country walks can help reduce depression and raise self-esteem.
This has led to calls for "ecotherapy" to become a recognised treatment for people with mental health problems.
Ecotherapy: the green agenda for mental health, is the first study looking at how "green" exercise specifically affects those suffering from depression.
According to Mind, it produced "startling" results proving the need for ecotherapy to be considered a proper treatment option.
The study by the University of Essex compared the benefits of a 30-minute walk in a country park with a walk in an indoor shopping centre on a group of 20 members of local Mind associations.
After the country walk, 71% reported decreased levels of depression and said they felt less tense while 90% reported increased self-esteem.
This was in contrast to only 45% who experienced a decrease in depression after the shopping centre walk, after which 22% said they actually felt more depressed.
I wonder how much of the antidepressant use is from:
1.) the drug companies greed
2.) people are just worn out from the non-stop technology, stress from work, the ever increasing immoral culture we live in, etc.
I know there have been times I have called in sick to work just to sit at home in absolute quiet to “gather my thoughts”. I have always felt much better afterward.
I’m ignorant in this area. What percentage of those on anti-depression medicine are using for short periods to get over a rough patch, versus people perpetually on some version or another?
The limited second hand exsposure that I’ve witnessed seems to ultimately end with the patient getting off them, claiming that intially they seemed to help, only to make matters worse in the long run.
Kick out all the Muslims and see how fast happiness will return to GB. Meanwhile, we here in the States had better stock up on anti-depressants.
“This article is so depressing. Now I need to take one of my little pills to compensate. Hmmm... Maybe two pills.”
I wonder how much of the depression is from seeing their culture and their country fading and failing.
I have my grandfather’s letters written from wartime London, telling of the fortitude and cheerfulness of the Londoners.
Back then, their enemy wasn’t within their gates, and they could shoot at him, and the Tube was a safe and convivial refuge.
Mrs VS
I suspect a lot of the depression in Great Britain is the cold foggy weather, and looking at all those ugly people.
Don't you remember all those asylums the Russians used to put their people in?
The Soviet Union had an over 60% alcoholism rate back then. I wonder what it is now.
If I lived in the socialist hellhole the UK has become, I’d be depressed too.
TC
I wonder how much of the depression is a byproduct of envy. The socialist politicians, journalists, academicians constantly fan the evil flames of envy for political gain. It is their most powerful manipulation tool.
The maker of Prozac, Eli Lilly, is a publicly traded company. Their stock hasn't gone anywhere during the last 10 years. If they are driven by greed they have done badly.
I suspect most of it is. My prescription would be to get rid the multicult mindset that the ruling classes have used to destroy England, and start weeding out the islamofacists. End further "diversity" immigration, too.
In other words, a good strong dose of "veritas."
You're full of it. My wife (born and bred in England) and I took a trip to Britain last September. The women looked great and the people are thinner than Americans. Post your pic, and let's see what you look like.
It was a joke. Sorry I didn’t make it 100% clear with a /sarcasm tag. Okay?
Yes, I agree. It must be sad indeed.
Have you seen this? Government is 'criminalising middle England'
It surely wouldn't help...
‘I suspect a lot of the depression in Great Britain is the cold foggy weather, and looking at all those ugly people.’
Whereas in America it’s caused by all the gun murders and looking at all those clinically obese people.
There’s nothing like a bit ignorant stereo-typing to set the tone for a thread, is there?
Geet a grip. I answered it in #14.
Later pingout.
Taking pills is not the answer. If anything, people who smoke marijuana and drink alcohol are self medicating. What's the difference between that and popping a doctor prescribed psyochoactive pill?
Better to cure the illness at the root, rather than numb the pain. And I say this as a former alcoholic, drug user, and sufferer from uncontrollable anger and depression.
Note FORMER.
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Hi, I’m asking this sincerely, not sarcastically! (There are so many wittily sarcastic folks on FR I feel I need to clarify that so I’m not misinterpreted.) I think you are brave to share that you had “former” problems with anger and depression. Would you mind answering this? Was a 12-step group, or other ‘support’ type of group, part of your getting better?
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