Wrong to think alcohol can curb depression

A QUARTER of the public believes having a few drinks will help combat depression, a study has revealed.

Some 280,000 people suffer from depression, but the public is misinformed about the condition and its treatment, according to the MRBI study.

“This is a shocking statistic because alcohol is a depressant, and even more distressing is that the percentage for those aged 55-plus believing this, is even higher at 36%,” said Dr Eamonn Shanahan, who contributed to the study.