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Voting patterns, revoking article 50 and antidepressant trends in England following the Brexit referendum

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  • Liew, Tim
  • Goodwin, Robin
  • Walasek, Lukasz

Abstract

Unexpected social or economic events have been shown to negatively impact mental health and wellbeing. The result of the 2016 Brexit referendum in the UK has been associated with an increase in uncertainty and consequent anxiety. This study analyses antidepressant prescription trends in the 533 constituencies of England in the year before and three years following the referendum. We examine associations between prescription trends and constituency-level voting patterns in the referendum and later support for the March 2019 “Revoke Article 50”, signed by more than 6 million UK citizens. A mixed model analysis revealed the rate of increase in antidepressant prescription trends to be steeper in Leave constituencies and in areas that did not support the petition, after controlling for constituency education, socioeconomic status, median age, total population, and seasonal effects. Proposed interpretations are provided, along with recommendations for future research. Implications for this study include redoubling mental health care service in areas that show significantly higher mental distress following a major political event.

Suggested Citation

  • Liew, Tim & Goodwin, Robin & Walasek, Lukasz, 2020. "Voting patterns, revoking article 50 and antidepressant trends in England following the Brexit referendum," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 255(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:255:y:2020:i:c:s0277953620302446
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.113025
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    1. Nattavudh Powdthavee & Anke C. Plagnol & Paul Frijters & Andrew E. Clark, 2019. "Who Got the Brexit Blues? The Effect of Brexit on Subjective Wellbeing in the UK," Economica, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 86(343), pages 471-494, July.
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    4. Georgios Kavetsos & Ichiro Kawachi & Ilias Kyriopoulos & Sotiris Vandoros, 2021. "The effect of the Brexit referendum result on subjective well‐being," Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series A, Royal Statistical Society, vol. 184(2), pages 707-731, April.
    5. Ross, Catherine E. & Mirowsky, John, 2006. "Sex differences in the effect of education on depression: Resource multiplication or resource substitution?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 63(5), pages 1400-1413, September.
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    2. Hervy, Charlotte & Cavalli, Nicolo & Madia, Joan E. & Nicodemo, Catia, 2022. "Diverging mental health after Brexit: Evidence from a longitudinal survey," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 302(C).

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