Platform 51

News

Categories: Mental health campaign
Wednesday, 7 September 2011
Women more prone to depression

Recent study concurs with our findings

Women are more than two-and-a-half times more likely than men to suffer from depression, with most cases occurring between the ages of 16 and 42, says Professor Hans Ulrich Wittchen, one of the authors of a recent study from the Dresden University of Technology in Germany for the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology. The study goes on to say that the burden of trying to look after children, take responsibility for the family and hold down a job has seen rates of depression in women double since the 1970s.

A letter we wrote in response to this was today printed by The Times newspaper:

"Sir, The research by Professor Hans-Ulrich Wittchen showing a doubling in rates of depression among women comes as no surprise to us ("Women feel the strain as depression rates increase", 5 Sept 2011). What is most worrying about this study is that one in three people are not having the right treatment for mental health problems, even after diagnosis.

"Our research echoes this and raises questions about the prescription of antidepressants in the UK. One in four women on antidepressants has been on them for ten years or more; one in four going for a year or more without a review of their prescription; and more than half not being offered any alternative or additional support to drugs at time of prescription. Of course antidepressants have a role to play in treating mental health problems but they should not be the first and only port of call."

Platform 51 research into the use of women's mental health and antidepressants was also mentioned in an article in today's The Guardian.

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Find out more about our campaign for better treatement for women with poor mental health.