Geographical health inequalities in England

Abstract

In this study, we examine long-term trends in premature mortality between and within regions in England, focusing on so-called ‘deaths of despair’ – suicide, alcohol and drug misuse – in younger age groups. In addition to socioeconomic drivers of health inequalities, we also measure the impacts of local environments, including green and blue spaces, and levels of trust and civic engagement.

Core research team

• Ana Castro (Department of Health Sciences, University of York) 
• Tim Doran (Department of Health Sciences, University of York) 
• Evangelos Kontopantelis (University of Manchester)
• Fiorella Parra Mujica (Nuffield Department of Population Health)

Outputs

• Kontopantelis, E., Buchan, I., Webb, R. T., Ashcroft, D. M., Mamas, M. A., & Doran, T. Disparities in mortality among 25–44-year-olds in England: a longitudinal, population-based study. Lancet Public Health 2018;3(12): 10.1016/S2468-2667(18)30177-4.
• Kontopantelis, E., Mamas, M. A., van Marwijk, H., Ryan, A. M., Buchan, I. E., Ashcroft, D. M., & Doran, T. Geographical epidemiology of health and overall deprivation in England, its changes and persistence from 2004 to 2015. J Epidemiol Community Health 2017;72:140-147.
• Buchan, I. E., Kontopantelis, E., Sperrin, M., Chandola, T., & Doran, T. North-South disparities in English mortality 1965–2015: longitudinal population study. J Epidemiol Community Health 2017;71: 928–936.
• Listen to the latest podcast (Jan 2020) from Professor Tim Doran - Looking beyond Horizons at the North South Divide, part of the series 'The Story of Things' hosted by the University of York in partnership with the York Festival of Ideas.

Briefings

• Commentary - North-South disparities in English mortality (PDF , 149kb)
• Illustration - North-South disparities in English mortality (MS PowerPoint , 743kb)

Funding: Wellcome Trust (Grant No. 205427/Z/16/Z) from 2020 to 2021