A charity is calling for more ‘joined up working’ between GPs surgeries and charities to tackle mental ill-health.

Penumbra chief executive Nigel Henderson says some primary care teams were already using link workers to connect people who might be struggling with non-medical support they need – but not often enough. 

He was reacting to figures revealing antidepressant prescriptions have risen by 48% in the last decade.

The total amount of antidepressants dispensed increased by 6% to 291 million doses in the last year alone.

Meanwhile the data from NHS Scotland’s Information Services Division show poorer Scots were more likely to be on these drugs than their richer neighbours.

Mr Henderson says approaches being adopted in some parts of Scotland have a better chance of changing things for the people concerned than simply prescribing more medicines:

“Sadly these figures tell a familiar story and reinforce the need for more work to be done in identifying what’s happening in our communities, particularly in areas of deprivation, and to ensure appropriate support is in place at the early stages.”

 “In many areas, we’re seeing the success of the link worker programme where people presenting at GP surgeries are connected to third sector organisations for non-medical support.

“For example, across all Moray GP practices we have mental health link workers and in parts of Angus, we have Peer Support workers who use their own lived experience of mental ill health and recovery working within GP practices to offer people practical support to develop self-management techniques, or to connect to local community resources with clear benefits to wellbeing.”