EXERCISE REFERRAL TO TREAT DEPRESSION

Early day motion 872, tabled 9 March 2005 by Lynne Jones (Labour). Signed by 37 members.

That this House welcomes the launch during Mental Health Action Week of a year-long campaign by the Mental Health Foundation to increase the use of exercise referral to treat mild and moderate depression; notes the 2,000 per cent. increase in the cost of antidepressant prescriptions over the last 12 years; further notes clinical guidelines which promote the use of physical exercise for depressed patients and discourage the use of antidepressants as a firstline treatment for mild depression; welcomes new research by the Mental Health Foundation which shows that few general practitioners offer exercise referral, and a vast majority still turn to antidepressants as their firstline treatment; recognises the pressure on primary care staff caused by the lack of available alternatives to antidepressants; and believes that exercise referral is a popular, available and effective treatment that is congruent with the Government's own public health plans, and should be promoted to all general practitioners.

Signatures by party: Labour 22, Liberal Democrat 8, Conservative 2, DUP 2, Labour/Co-operative 2, Plaid Cymru 1.