The number of people being prescribed antidepressants rose significantly after the EU referendum, a study suggests.

It found that the use of antidepressants increased by 13.4% after the Brexit vote and has continued to grow since then.

Researchers say the findings prove more needs to be done to promote mental wellbeing during times of ‘economic uncertainty or political upheaval’.

Demonstrators hold placards as they take part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. (Photo by NIKLAS HALLE'N / AFP)NIKLAS HALLE'N/AFP/Getty Images
National events, such as elections and financial crises, can affect mental health, researchers said (AFP/Getty)

Relative to other drug classes included in the study, there was a spike in antidepressant prescriptions during the month after Britain opted to leave the European Union in June 2016.

Writing in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, the authors suggested the finding may be attributed to ‘increased uncertainty for some parts of the population’.

Researchers from King’s College London and Harvard School of Public Health compiled the number of defined daily doses per capita every month in each of the 326 voting areas in England between 2011-2016.

They compared antidepressant prescriptions to prescriptions for iron and anti-gout drugs – chosen because they were ‘unlikely to be associated with uncertainty and depression’.

While the surge in prescriptions could be put down to increased uncertainty for some, the researchers said it ‘does not rule out a possible improvement in mood for others’.

More needs to be done to support mental wellbeing during times of ‘economic uncertainty or political upheaval’ the study found (Picture: Getty)
A man carrying an anti-EU pro-Brexit placard shouts in a counter protest against pro-Europe marchers on a March for Europe demonstration against the Brexit vote in Parliament Square in central London on September 3, 2016. Thousands marched in central London to Parliament Square in a pro-Europe rally against the referendum vote to leave the European Union. / AFP / JUSTIN TALLIS (Photo credit should read JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP/Getty Images)
The numbers of people being prescribed antidepressants did not differ significantly in areas that predominantly voted Leave or Remain (Picture: AFP/Getty)

‘There are alternative possible explanations, and we cannot be sure that this relative increase in antidepressants is due to the referendum result,’ they added, stressing the results should be treated with ‘caution’.

They also said that the numbers of people being prescribed antidepressants did not differ significantly in areas that predominantly voted Leave or Remain.

The study concluded: ‘Some other factor – for example, distraction, might have contributed to a decrease in the control therapeutic classes.

‘A possible policy implication is that programmes for the promotion of mental health may need to be intensified during periods of uncertainty.’

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