London accounts for almost all of England’s lowest depression rates, in stark contrast to elsewhere in the country
Londoners have the lowest rates of diagnosed depression in the country(Image: AzmanJaka via Getty Images)
London dominates the list of areas with the lowest rates of depression in England, with the capital’s neighbourhoods and constituencies filling almost every spot at the bottom of the table – in stark contrast to a deepening mental health crisis elsewhere in the country.
New figures published by the House of Commons Library lay bare the scale of England’s mental health divide, revealing that nine of the ten parliamentary constituencies with the lowest rates of depression are in London, along with the vast majority of the least-affected neighbourhoods across the country.
Brent West records the lowest rate of any constituency in England, with just 6.66 per cent of adult GP patients diagnosed with depression. It is followed closely by Ealing Southall (6.7%), Ilford South (6.71%), Cities of London and Westminster (6.95%), and East Ham (6.95%). Other London seats featuring in the bottom ten include Ilford North, Feltham and Heston, Ealing Central and Acton, Brentford and Isleworth, and Harrow East (8.14%).
Individuals living in areas with fewer opportunities are more likely to report feeling depressed(Image: paul mansfield photography via Getty Images)
London’s figures are equally striking at a neighbourhood level. St John’s Wood North in Westminster records the lowest rate of depression of any neighbourhood in England, with just 4.2% of adult residents carrying a formal diagnosis. Bryanston and Dorset Square in Westminster is second lowest at 5.07%, followed by Regent’s Park (5.14%) and St John’s Wood South (5.16%). Knightsbridge, Belgravia and Hyde Park rounds out the Westminster neighbourhoods in the bottom ten, at 5.2%, alongside several areas in Ealing, Brent, Hounslow, and Redbridge.
The worst-faring London areas are still well below England’s average. Islington North is the London constituency with the highest number of patients diagnosed with depression at 13.4%, which is less than England’s average rate of 14.3%.
You can see how high the rates of depression are where you live using our interactive map.
The picture could not be more different elsewhere in the country. The North West of England has the highest rate of adults diagnosed with depression of any region in England, with six of the ten worst-affected constituencies located there. Birkenhead in Merseyside has the highest overall rate, with around one in four adult GP patients diagnosed with depression (25%).
At neighbourhood level, the situation is even more acute. Brinnington in Stockport records the highest rate of depression in England, with one in three adult residents carrying a formal diagnosis (32%). Before the pandemic in 2019, Brinnington was already ranked the most depressed neighbourhood in Britain, when one in four residents had a formal diagnosis (24%). The situation has deteriorated significantly since then.
There are likely to be multiple reasons behind both the high rates in the North West and the lower rates recorded in London. Deprivation is known to contribute to depression, with many of the worst-affected areas suffering from the decline of industry and a lack of stable employment. Brinnington is also physically hemmed in by the M60 motorway and steep valley terrain, cutting it off from broader economic opportunities.
Previous reports have also noted a lack of stigma surrounding mental health awareness in some of the most affected communities, which may mean residents are more likely to seek help and receive a formal diagnosis – laying bare a crisis that could remain hidden in areas where people are less likely to come forward.
The figures arrive as Andy Burnham settles into 10 Downing Street following his appointment as Prime Minister after the resignation of Sir Keir Starmer. The former Manchester Mayor, dubbed the ‘King of the North’, has promised to tackle deep-seated regional inequality which may be contributing to poor mental health in some parts of the country. Setting out his vision, Mr Burnham declared that “Westminster is broken” and has long failed the regions, pledging to “drive good growth in every postcode.”
Gemma Byrne, Policy and Influencing Manager at mental health charity Mind, said: “Depression might feel like you get less enjoyment from the things you previously enjoyed, it might make you want to withdraw from loved ones, you might have trouble eating, sleeping, and exercising, and you can feel isolated or hopeless. You might also be thinking about ways to harm yourself or struggling with suicidal thoughts. These can all have a huge impact on your day-to-day life and make it difficult to manage tasks and self-care. It can affect your work, relationships, finances, and hobbies.”
She added: “No matter what kind of symptoms you have, everyone deserves to be able to access the help that they need. These figures show a significant number of people reporting poor mental health across the North West. While the exact reasons are unclear, we do know there are huge links between deprivation and mental wellbeing.”
“For example, we know that struggling financially can take a huge toll on your mental health and equally, struggling with your mental health can make it harder to manage your finances. That’s why we need to see a shift in our mental health system towards better understanding of people’s needs upfront and providing care that is holistic, appropriate, and person-centred.”
The figures show the proportion of GP patients aged 18 and over diagnosed with depression.
The 10 parliamentary constituencies with the lowest prevalence of depressionBrent West (6.66%)Ealing Southall (6.7%)Ilford South (6.71%)Cities of London and Westminster (6.95%)East Ham (6.95%)Ilford North (7.28%)Feltham and Heston (7.49%)Ealing Central and Acton (7.92%)Brentford and Isleworth (8.07%)Harrow East (8.14%)The 10 neighbourhoods with the lowest prevalence of depressionSt John’s Wood North, Westminster (4.2%)Bryanston and Dorset Square, Westminster (5.07%)Southall Green East, Ealing (5.14%)Regent’s Park, Westminster (5.14%)St John’s Wood South, Westminster (5.16%)Knightsbridge, Belgravia and Hyde Park, Westminster (5.2%)Southall West, Ealing (5.27%)Wembley West, Brent (5.38%)Southall Green West, Ealing (5.48%)Southall Park, Ealing (5.64%)Hounslow West, Hounslow (5.64%)Ilford North West, Redbridge (5.64%)
Mind has several helplines available for advice and support for anyone experiencing a mental health problem:
Support Line: 0300 102 1234 (lines open 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except bank holidays) Mind Infoline: 0300 123 3393 (lines open 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except bank holidays) Welfare benefits line: 0300 222 5782 (lines open 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, except bank holidays) Legal line: 0300 466 6463 (lines open 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except bank holidays)
Mind’s Our online mental health community Side by Side is a safe space where anyone aged 18 and over with experience of a mental health problem can share their story, connect with others, access Mind’s wider information and resources, and give support in return. Find out more at www.sidebyside.mind.org.uk
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