London accounts for nearly all of England's lowest depression rates, according to new figures from the House of Commons Library. Nine of the ten parliamentary constituencies with the lowest rates of diagnosed depression are in the capital, alongside the vast majority of the least-affected neighbourhoods nationwide.
London constituencies with the lowest depression prevalence
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 in the bottom ten include Ilford North (7.28%), Feltham and Heston (7.49%), Ealing Central and Acton (7.92%), Brentford and Isleworth (8.07%), and Harrow East (8.14%).
At neighbourhood level, St John's Wood North in Westminster records the lowest rate in England at 4.2%, followed by Bryanston and Dorset Square (5.07%), Regent's Park (5.14%), and St John's Wood South (5.16%). Knightsbridge, Belgravia and Hyde Park (5.2%) also feature, alongside areas in Ealing, Brent, Hounslow, and Redbridge.
North West faces the highest depression rates
The picture is starkly different elsewhere. The North West of England has the highest regional rate, 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, Brinnington in Stockport records the highest rate 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%).
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.
Political and expert response to regional divide
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 has promised to tackle deep-seated regional inequality, declaring that "Westminster is broken" and 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." She added: "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."
The figures show the proportion of GP patients aged 18 and over diagnosed with depression. Mind provides support via its Support Line (0300 102 1234) and other helplines, open weekdays from 9am to 6pm, except bank holidays.
