ST HELENS has the highest rate in Merseyside for prescribing antidepressants over the course.

New research found that in 2016 the north west produced on average 1.4 prescriptions of antidepressants per person – higher than the England average of 1.16.

St Helens prescribes the most antidepressants in Merseyside – and third highest in the north west – at 1.7 prescriptions per person.

Blackpool prescribes the most antidepressants per person in the country at 2.1 prescriptions – the only district in England where more than two prescriptions per person per year were given out by GPs.

Analytic database provider EXASOL released the data this week, with findings showing a wide variation across the country with a "clear link to deprivation" in the north and east of England.

Knowsley is fourth highest in the north west, and second in Merseyside, with 1.6 prescriptions per person. Elsewhere in Merseyside, Wirral has 1.5, and Liverpool and Sefton have 1.4.

Wigan and Halton have 1.4 and Warrington is second from the bottom of the north west's table with 1.2.

Sean Jackson, of EXASOL, said: "When analysing the data, we can see that the prescribing of antidepressants has increased by a large amount in recent years. However, this is only one part of the story: when we delve deeper, we find that the data can uncover further information such as geographic differences.

"People suffering from mental health problems need support and respect; these insights can direct help to the right places and it highlights where more resources are necessary.

"We hope the findings will help to raise awareness of this important issue."

EXASOL analysed 774 million rows of data, capturing every GP prescription dispensed at all pharmacies across England in the past six years.