Wyatt, Steven, Spencer, Jonathan, Seamer, Paul, Jones, Andrew, Turner, Alison, Stafford, Mai, Marszalek, Kathryn and Mohammed, Mohammed Amin
2026.
Deaths of despair in England, 2014?2022: trends by sex and socioeconomic deprivation before and after COVID-19.
International Journal of Public Health
71
, 1609841.
10.3389/ijph.2026.1609841
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Abstract
Objectives: Deaths of despair—alcohol, substance use, suicide and non-organic mental health related—have attracted international attention, but English evidence remains limited. We examined trends in deaths of despair in England (2014–2022), including COVID-19 impacts and inequalities by sex and deprivation.Methods: We analysed all registered deaths in England (2014–2022), identifying deaths of despair by ICD-10 code. Age-standardised mortality rates, years of life lost, and inequalities by sex and deprivation were calculated. Log-linear regression estimated pre-pandemic trends and deviations during COVID-19.Results: There were 133,600 deaths of despair (2.9% of all deaths). Age-standardised mortality rates rose 33%, from 22.6 to 30.1 per 100,000. Mortality was consistently higher in men and deprived areas, with widening inequalities. During COVID-19, mortality temporarily exceeded the pre-pandemic trend, particularly among women and deprived groups, before returning to trend. Deaths of despair accounted for a rising share of years of potential life lost (13.9%–16.6%).Conclusion: Deaths of despair increased substantially in England, contributing a growing burden of premature mortality. Persistent, widening inequalities highlight a public health challenge requiring surveillance and interventions addressing immediate causes and social determinants.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Date Type: | Published Online |
| Status: | Published |
| Schools: | Schools > Business (Including Economics) |
| Publisher: | Frontiers Media |
| ISSN: | 1661-8564 |
| Date of First Compliant Deposit: | 30 September 2026 |
| Date of Acceptance: | 13 August 2026 |
| Last Modified: | 30 Sep 2026 11:23 |
| URI: | https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/189911 |
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