More people in Brighton and Hove are living with depression since the Covid pandemic. New figures from Public Health England show more than 6.6 million people in England were living with depression in 2022-23, the highest figure since records began in 2012.
In Brighton and Hove there were 37,346 adults with depression in 2022-23, making up 13.4 per cent of adults in the area registered with a GP. This was a slight increase on the year before, when it was 12.
9 per cent, and more than in 2019-20, before the Covid pandemic, when it was 11.7 per cent. The figures are based on unresolved diagnoses of depression as recorded on patients' GP records since April 2006.
They do not account for those suffering with the condition but still waiting for a formal diagnosis. Jeremy Bernhaut, head of policy and influencing at Rethink Mental Illness, said depression can have a "devastating" effect and quick access to treatment is "essential to enable recovery". However, he added it could be an encouraging sign that more people now recognise the symptoms and are seeking help for mental health issues.
"While the nation’s mental health is often measured through NHS statistics, it’s vital to remember the real-life experiences of the people behind the statistics and resource the NHS to meet the rising demand for support,” he said. Read more: The happiest and saddest places in Sussex revealed He called for a "whole society approach", requiring action from across government departments. The high.