Adding lithium to tap water ‘could cut depression rates’

THE Government should consider adding lithium salts to tap water in an effort to lower depression rates, a consultant psychiatrist has suggested.

Former Clare TD, Dr Moosajee Bhamjee, cited British Journal of Psychiatry research from Austria which found that “geographic regions with higher natural lithium concentrations in drinking water are associated with lower suicide mortality rates”.

In the 10 most lithium-depleted regions in Austria, the suicide rate was 16 suicides per 100,000 people, but in the 10 most lithium-rich regions, the suicide rate was just 11 per 100,000, the study found.