Four out of ten patients visiting their GP are there because of mental health issues, Midlothian councillors were told this week.
Nick Clater, head of adult services at Midlothian Health and Social Care Partnership, said many people were seeking help for depression and distress as he described the impact on GP time as "significant".
Speaking to the council's performance review and scrutiny committee, Mr Clater said every GP practice in Midlothian now has a mental health nurse working in them to ease the burden.
