Lib Dem plan to tackle 'Prozac nation'

Friday 8th February 2008 at 00:00

The Liberal Democrats have pledged a major reduction in the wait for NHS treatment for mental health problems.

Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg said on Friday that patients should be able to receive help within 13 weeks.

The government currently guarantees hospital treatment within 18 weeks.

But Lib Dem research has found that community care and specialist services such as psychotherapy and counselling can take as long as two years to receive.

Clegg claimed that this has led to the overuse of anti-depressant drugs.

He was set to tell the Guardian Public Services Summit that: "Britain has become the true 'Prozac Nation'. I believe this trend has gone too far.

"We must cut the number of anti-depressants prescribed by doctors. Pills must not be a crutch for the wider issues in our society which cause mental health problems."

Fri 8th Feb 2008

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