MORE people in Barnsley are living with depression since the Covid pandemic.

New figures from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities show more than 6.6 million people in England were living with depression in 2022./23, the highest figure since records began in 2012.

In Barnsley there were 31,595 adults with depression in 2022/23, making up 14.8 per cent of adults in the area registered with a GP.

This was a slight increase on the year before, when it was 14.2 per cent, and more than in 2019/20, before the Covid pandemic, when it was 13 per cent.

The figures are based on unresolved diagnoses of depression as recorded on patients’ GP records since April 2006 and do not account for those suffering with the condition but still waiting for a formal diagnosis.

Jeremy Bernhaut, head of policy and influencing at Rethink Mental Illness, said depression can have a ‘devastating’ effect and quick access to treatment is essential to enable recovery.

He added: “While the nation’s mental health is often measured through NHS statistics, it’s vital to remember the real-life experiences of the people behind the statistics and resource the NHS to meet the rising demand for support.”

The highest rate of depression in England was found in Blackpool, where 21.6 per cent of the population was diagnosed.

Lee Fernandes, lead therapist at UKAT, which treats people for mental health conditions including depression, called the figures ‘a difficult read’.

He added: “Depression is a difficult condition to have and for loved ones to understand; it’s much deeper than just feeling low or sad.

“We receive calls for help for depression every single day; and thankfully, these are the people who are taking positive steps to tackling their depression, either alongside prescribed antidepressants or even as a first step before opting for the pills.

“With the right therapy, it is possible to be free from depression.”