Health inequalities and social determinants of mental health

The Understanding Society study (Understanding Society: the United Kingdom Household Longitudinal Study), which began in 2009, is conducted by the Institute for Social and Economic Research, at the University of Essex.

Understanding Society interviews around 40,000 households every year, with a focus on family and community behaviour, and helps researchers explore inequalities and how these may be changing over time. Inclusivity is built into the foundation of Understanding Society.

Find out more about mental health research using Understanding Society data.

Researchers

• The Understanding Society team

Collaborators and funders

• Funder: Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)

Using the Understanding Society dataset, our researchers have examined inequalities in mental health across a range of social and economic factors.

Our NIHR East of England Applied Research Consortium mental health research team, in collaboration with local and regional stakeholders, has been examining inequalities in undiagnosed mental health in the community across protected characteristics as defined by the UK Equality Act. Emerging findings from this work show that while women, younger people, single people and ethnic minorities do face disadvantages in accessing diagnosis and care, the greatest disadvantages are faced by sexual minorities and people living with a disability.

Researchers

• Professor Susan McPherson
• Professor Meena Kumari
• Dr Cara Booker
• Dr Antonella Trotta
• Dr Claire Wicks

Collaborators and funders

• Funder: NIHR ARC East of England.

In the UK, trends in mental health show a growing crisis among young people which has been accelerated by the pandemic. Dr Emily Murray, Director of our new Centre for Coastal Communities is currently working on analysis of Understanding Society to show that living in a deprived coastal community also has a more detrimental impact on mental health of teenagers than living in a deprived inland area.

Researchers

• Dr Emily Murray

Collaborators and funders

• Funder: Understanding Society/ ESRC