What can Britain learn from the US on links between economic distress and poor health?

Social angst contributes to ill health; there is much that can be done locally to combat this, but government action is needed too

Theresa May, in her first speech as prime minister, stood on the steps of Downing Street and referred to the glaring injustice of gaps in life expectancy and declared her intention to solve it by governing for everyone. I had a moment of hope for concerted action to increase health equity. That’s not looking bright at the moment; the government’s attention is elsewhere.

For many young people in Britain today – what with student debts, rental costs, the decline in home ownership, the gig economy and the economic uncertainties of Brexit – times are challenging.

The US has a disastrous level of health for young and middle-aged adults

Related: ‘Alarming’ rise in early deaths of young adults in the north of England – study

Related: Health inequality gap ‘is still growing’ in England, new Department of Health data shows

Continue reading... November 17, 2017 at 05:36PM