Why are Heywood, Rochdale and Middleton the third unhappiest places in England?

More NHS money is spent on anti-depressants in the borough than almost anywhere else in the country

The number of people taking anti-depressants in the borough is one of the highest nationally - but why?

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/100800/more-spent-on-antidepressants-than-almost-anywhere-else-in-the-country

The Rochdale Borough Mental Health and Wellbeing Needs Assessment 2014 showed how studies revealed a link between living in a deprived area and developing mental health problems.

It read: “The areas of highest deprivation are found in Central Rochdale, Langley (Middleton), Darnhill (Heywood), Kirkholt, Newbold, Spotland and Falinge and Smallbridge. All of these locations contain LSOAs [lower layer super output areas] in the worst 3% in the country, with many surrounding areas in the 3%-10% group.

“Studies show that people experiencing poor quality of life are more susceptible to developing mental health problems. In March 2011 the Indices of Multiple Deprivation 2010 were released showing that Rochdale continues to suffer from areas of severe deprivation.”

It was also said that high unemployment was to blame, and that people who are not working are “twice as likely” to suffer from depression than those who are.

The document read: “Unemployment is associated with social exclusion, reduced psychological wellbeing, and a greater risk of self-harm, depression and anxiety. Unemployed people are twice as likely to suffer from depression as those who work. Two thirds of men under 35 years who commit suicide are unemployed. Youth unemployment in particular carries a significant mental health risk. Long-term unemployed young people are more than twice as likely as their peers 24 to have been prescribed anti-depressants, one in three has contemplated suicide and one in four have self-harmed.”