As per new official figures shared, as many as 1 in every 10 adults are now being prescribed antidepressants in Scotland. According to the NHS statistics revealed, 9.7% of the people in the above 15 age group were daily users of antidepressants in 2007-08, which is a 4.7% rise as compared to the figures for the previous year.

Overall, for the year 2008-09, a total of 4.01 million antidepressants were prescribed, but the cost of the medicine slipped from 40.4 Million Pounds in 2007-08 to 35.8 Million Pounds on the back of slashed drug prices.

The Government of Scotland is now aiming at reducing the use of antidepressants, and the Labour health spokesman has stressed that the figures are "extremely worrying".

"We all know these are difficult times and the recession is having a widely reported impact on the mental health of the nation. However, SAMH is concerned that one in ten of the adult population in Scotland is now taking antidepressants regularly. SAMH believes that the best way to support people with mental health problems is to provide prompt access to a wide range of treatments, including talking therapies and exercise", shared Billy Watson, Chief Executive of the charity Scottish Association for Mental Health.