Research by RTÉ Investigates has shown that the number of patients being prescribed antidepressants under publicly funded drug schemes has increased by nearly 20% over the past five years.

Are doctors guilty of over-prescribing antidepressants?

Dr Ray Walley thinks there may be an element of this, but says the issue could also be partly due to the difficulty in accessing counselling services.

While there is evidence that medication helps, he recommends talk therapy as the first line of treatment, as well as factoring in exercise and support from the people around you.

In our weekly medical slot, he also discussed the major international study which has found no link between the MMR vaccine and autism.