MORE than 30,000 adults in Barnsley are living with depression, shock new figures released by Public Health England have revealed.
A total of 6.6 million people in England were living with depression in 2022/23 – the highest figure since records began in 2012.
In Barnsley there were 31,595 adults with depression in 2022/23, making up 14.8 per cent of adults in the area registered with a GP.
This was a slight increase on the year before, when it was 14.2 per cent, and more than in 2019/20, before the Covid pandemic, when it was 13 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.
A spokesperson for the charity Rethink Mental Illness said the ‘unsurprising’ increase may have been fuelled by the double header of the Covid-19 pandemic and cost-of-living crisis.
Jeremy Bernhaut, head of policy and influencing at the charity, said depression can have a ‘devastating’ effect, and quick access to treatment is ‘essential to enable recover’.
However, he added it could be ‘an encouraging sign’ more people now recognise the symptoms and are seeking help for mental health issues.
He added: “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.”
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said it was ‘unacceptable’ people with mental health issues are not getting the support or care they deserve.
“That’s why we will fix the broken system we have inherited to ensure we give mental health the same attention and focus as physical health,” they said.
