How to manage stress and low mood as antidepressant use almost doubles in UK
Over the last 12 years, prescriptions for antidepressants have almost doubled in the UK, with 89 million people taking the mood-boosting medications as of 2023.
According to the same report by the think tank Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), published in January 2025, one in five people over 18 are now prescribed antidepressants and a further 450,000 children and young people have been prescribed them.
A poll also conducted by the CSJ revealed that 83% of GPs are concerned that the mood stabilising medications are prescribed when alternatives – such as talking therapies – would be more suitable.
Why are we facing a mental health crisis?
The CSJ attributes the uptick to a "rise in prevalence and caused by the gradual erosion of the protective factors that enable good mental health", such as a "hollowing out of strong families, cohesive communities, economic opportunity and good work", as well as the pandemic – a time where for many "screens were the only form of connection."
Niloufar Esmaeilpour, a registered clinical counsellor, approved supervisor and founder at Lotus Therapy & Counselling Centre, agrees that the impact of the pandemic is still playing out. She also believes our reliance and pervasive use of social media has impacted our overall mental health and wellbeing.
She explains to Yahoo UK: "Social media, especially social media that took off around 2010, really changed the way we interacted and viewed our lives, fostering feelings of insecurity and anxiety, among others. These external pressures, coupled with greater awareness and reduced stigma around mental health, probably drive more patients to seek medical remedies."
Esmaeilpour also says that there has been a rise in "self-diagnosis" of late, where the distinction is blurred between symptoms of clinical entities that are considered to be mental health disorders versus states of mind related to feelings or experiences, such as sadness or nervousness.
"This development carries the attendant risk of people mislabeling their symptoms and taking medication unnecessarily or failing to take important issues to professionals. It becomes paramount to differentiate temporary states of emotions from a full-blown disorder to provide care or interventions if needed," she notes.
That’s not to say that people should be deterred from seeking help, of course. But it is important not to conflate a temporary state of mind or emotion, as Esmaeilpour says, and something longer-term and more serious.
What’s causing the rise of antidepressants?
When it comes to why GPs opt for a prescription of antidepressants over other treatments, Esmaeilpour suggests that the main issue is funding, waiting lists and resources in the NHS.
"Prescribing medication is usually quicker and easier than arranging and attending regular therapy sessions. The waiting lists for therapies like cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) could be reduced by training more mental health professionals within the NHS, offering options for digital therapies, and prioritising the services to ensure people get access in a timely manner."
Indeed, the lack of resources and long waiting lists are things the CSJ also outlined in its findings.
In 2022/23, although 89.3% of people finishing a course of Talking Therapies treatment via the NHS got their first appointment within six weeks, average waiting times between first and second appointments in England were 62.5 days.
What is the best solution for those suffering with mental illness?
"In my view, the most effective long-term solution for people experiencing mental illness combines both therapeutic intervention and adjustment of lifestyle. Thus, regular therapy – such as CBT or any other evidence-based modality – and building up a good social support network, leading a healthy lifestyle, and developing good coping strategies will ensure sustained improvement. Further, the issues that triggered it all off must be addressed, and resilience built up for future tough times," Esmaeilpour states.
And what about managing everyday stress and low mood?
According to Esmaeilpour, there are various ways you can manage temporary mood changes, such as sadness and nervousness, including:
Regular exercise
Proper nutrition
Adequate sleep
Practice of mindfulness or meditation
Setting realistic goals
Staying close to friends and family
Indulging in hobbies
BACP-registered therapist Rochelle Armstrong previously told Yahoo UK that spending time outdoors can really help boost your mood.
“Natural light can have a positive impact, because it increases serotonin (the chemical in our brains that help boost our mood) and melatonin (the hormone that regulates the body’s wake-sleep cycle),” she says.
Armstrong also notes the importance of structure and routine, adding: "Wake up and go to bed at the same time each day and incorporate enjoyable activities into your schedule."
When it comes to managing stress and cortisol levels, there are also a number of ways to stay healthy at home.
So, when should people seek help?
"Professional help is indicated if the emotional battle has been going on longer than a few weeks, if it impairs daily functioning, or is growing in intensity," Esmaeilpour says. "At once seek professional help if feelings of sadness or anxiety become overwhelming or if self-harm thoughts arise. The earlier the intervention, the less likely the conditions will worsen, and one will be better equipped with coping skills to manage their mental health."
Read more about mental health:
Is it really better to forget? Three trauma experts on the Severance effect (Yahoo Life UK, 6-min read)
Nine ways to reduce cortisol levels, as Amy Schumer discusses Cushing’s syndrome (Yahoo Life UK, 5-min read)
When and how to end your therapy sessions, according to experts (Yahoo Life UK, 6-min read)
