Poverty driving more than 1.3 million cases of depression, study finds

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Poverty is driving more than 1.3 million avoidable cases of depression in the UK, with areas of the northwest experiencing the highest levels of poor mental health, a study has found. The report said if health inequalities were reduced, there would be 1.3 million fewer adults living with depression – the equivalent of a 27 per cent reduction. An overarching, meaningful health inequalities strategy is now more urgent than ever.” Chris Thomas, senior research fellow for IPPR, said: “It’s not some royal jelly that explains the shocking health disparities in England: it’s clusters of poverty, deprivation and disadvantage. It’s not some royal jelly that explains the shocking health disparities in England: it’s clusters of poverty, deprivation and disadvantage Chris Thomas, senior research fellow for IPPR “One of the key beliefs in this country is that who you are or where you come from should not impact your health – and so, it is alarming that as many as 1.3 million cases of depression can be put down to the material conditions people live in.