Britain is "Prozac nation"
Too many people are being prescribed anti-depressants, Nick Clegg claims
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Friday, 08, Feb 2008 01:11
Britain has become "the true Prozac nation", Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said today in a speech on the state of mental health in England.
The MP for Sheffield Hallam said efforts "must be made to cut the number of anti-depressants prescribed by doctors".
"Medication does have a role to play in tackling mental health problems, but they should not be the default option because of a lack of access to psychological therapies," Mr Clegg said.
His speech also criticised the time it takes for people with mental health problems to receive treatment.
Speaking at the Guardian Public Services Summit this morning, the party leader pledged to guarantee everyone suffering from mental health problems a first appointment for treatment within 13 weeks of referral.
His comments follow a survey by the Liberal Democrats which found that the average time for those people waiting longest for mental health treatment is over seven months.
The party said some people are waiting over three years for treatment such as psychotherapy and councelling.
Waiting times are said to vary across the country and type of region.
"The most vulnerable people are waiting scandalously long for access to treatment when all the evidence shows that early intervention is vital," he said.
"I am calling for nothing less than a revolution in how we treat mental illness. Within four years I want our health service to guarantee that no one will wait longer than 13 weeks for their first treatment. The NHS must deliver that service, or the patient will be entitled to go private."