Between March 2020 and March 2025, more than 428 million antidepressants were issued in England costing the NHS £1.23 billion.
Prescriptions of antidepressants have risen by more than 40% since 2020 and have cost the NHS £1.23 billion in that time.
Between March 2020 and March 2025, more than 428 million antidepressants were issued in England. In 2024 alone, more than 91 million prescriptions were dispensed, marking the highest annual total on record, according to group insurance company YuLife which has looked at The firm says that the findings reveal a mental health system under pressure, and a workforce increasingly caught in the middle.
“These numbers are a wake-up call, not because medication is wrong, but because it’s often the only support available. People don’t just need treatment, they need access to help earlier, and more of it,” said Sammy Rubin, chief executive of YuLife.
As Healthcare Today reported at the start of the month, the average time a person in a mental health crisis spent in A&E last year was an hour more than in 2023.
Medication before care
Mental health challenges are widespread, with mixed anxiety and depression affecting 7.8% of the UK population and between 4-10% experiencing depression in their lifetime, according to the Mental Health Foundation. Workplace stress plays a major role. According to Deloitte, UK employers lose an estimated £51 billion per year due to poor mental health, driven by absenteeism, presenteeism, and turnover. These costs are compounded by a system where many employees struggling with stress and burnout are prescribed medication before being offered preventative care.
While much attention is paid to rising prescription volumes, the financial cost is just as significant. Over the past five years, the NHS has spent £1.23 billion on antidepressant medications. That equates to an average of £473 spent every minute. While spending has decreased almost by a third since 2020, it remains high, which reflects both the scale and frequency of prescribing.
The North West recorded the highest average annual prescriptions at over 1.13 million per year, while also being among the regions with the highest overall populations. The South East followed closely behind in volume but recorded the highest annual cost, over £3.6 million, despite prescribing fewer items, which suggests higher per-item costs. By contrast, the North East had the lowest volume and cost, with just over 550,000 prescriptions per year on average, and a total cost of £1.4 million annually.
