Individual and local area factors associated with self-reported wellbeing, perceived social cohesion and sense of attachment to one’s community: analysis of the Understanding Society Survey

What Works Wellbeing, September 2019

What Works Wellbeing analysis of data from the Understanding Society Survey (USS) which follows a large sample of people from across Britain over time. This study was undertaken to examine questions likely to be especially relevant for those working in the field of public health intelligence, using small area statistics to identify localities where interventions may particularly need to be targeted in order to reduce inequalities in wellbeing across England. Key findings are:

• Those living in areas with worse Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) scores, and in areas with higher Social Fragmentation (SFI) Scores reported lower levels of social cohesion in their area and weaker sense of attachment to their neighbourhoods. SFI scores significantly predict perceived cohesion and attachment, in addition to IMD Scores.

• Those living in areas with worse IMDs scores reported lower (worse) wellbeing scores in survey wave 4 and less positive rates of change in wellbeing by wave 7, when all of the individual attributes are taken into account. Some domains of the IMD2010 index are more relevant for predicting wellbeing than others.

• Perception of social cohesion and sense of attachment to one’s neighbourhood were associated with self-reported wellbeing

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Starting Well Core: 0-2s dental access and prevention framework

NHS England and NHS Improvement, September 2019

This document aims to provide local dental commissioning teams with a framework to support implementation of the Starting Well Core initiative. It includes guidance around how the initiative works, the payment mechanism, securing participating practices, training and resources, and communications and engagement.

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Psychological perspectives on obesity: addressing policy, practice and research priorities

British Psychological Society, September 2019

British Psychological Society report calling for government to ensure every initiative aimed at promoting a healthy weight is informed by psychological evidence. It says weight management services are best delivered by multidisciplinary teams that include psychologists. All health professionals working in obesity services should be trained in the psychological understanding of obesity so they understand the factors that can contribute to the condition and to the success or failure of treatment. It provides a series of recommendations based around the following areas:

• Reducing weight-related stigma

• Psychologically informed policy

• Standards and guidelines

• Training and supervision

• Weight management services

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Drug-related harms in homeless populations and how they can be reduced

Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, September 2019

This report finds that there is increased risk of problematic drug use associated with people who experience homelessness. There is a higher rate of drug-related deaths, infections among people who inject drugs, and multiple morbidities. People who experience homelessness and use substances have particularly complex circumstances and additional risks which require intensive long-term support. An integrated health, social care, and community care approach to the recovery and housing needs of people who are homeless would provide the optimal model of service delivery. This must include a focus on safe, stable housing and evidence-based harm reduction initiatives.

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British Journal of Psychiatry – October 2019

The October edition of British Journal of Psychiatry is now available.  This issue includes articles on occupation-specific suicide risk in England, self-harm in mid-life, and suicidal risk factors in major affective disorders.

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Policy briefing: social care funding and mental health

Centre for Mental Health, September 2019

Centre for Mental Health briefing exploring what a fair and sustainable funding settlement for social care needs to look like in order to deliver parity of esteem for mental health and sufficient funding to support people of working age as well as those in later life. It reviews the current funding and provision of mental health social work for people of working age in England. It finds that mental health social work has a vital role in helping people to live independently and to secure their rights and dignity. A successful funding settlement for social care must begin with a recognition that a significant proportion of adult social care supports people of working age: it is not just for those in later life. Social services have specific responsibilities in relation to mental health, as they do for people with learning disabilities and other care needs, at all stages of life.

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Healthy, prosperous lives for all: the European health equity status report –

World Health Organization Europe, September 2019

This report reveals that health inequities in many of the 53 countries in the WHO European Region remain either the same or have worsened despite governments’ attempts to address them. The report identifies five key risk factors that are holding many children, young people, women and men back from achieving good health and leading safe and decent lives. Key findings on current health status and trends across the Region show a significant health divide.

• While average life expectancy across the Region increased to 82.0 years for women and 76.2 years for men by 2016, there are still significant health inequities between social groups: a woman’s life expectancy is cut by up to 7 years and a man’s by up to 15 years if they are in the most disadvantaged groups.

• Almost twice as many women and men in the least affluent 20% of the population report illnesses that limit their freedom to carry out daily activities, compared to those in the most affluent 20%.

• In 45 of 48 countries providing data, women with the fewest years of education report higher rates of poor or fair health compared to women with the most years of education; the pattern is the same for men in 47 of the 48 countries.

• Where you live influences how long and how well you are able to live: trends show that in almost 75% of countries surveyed, the differences in life expectancy between the most and least advantaged regions have not changed in over a decade, and in some cases have worsened.

• In the most deprived areas, 4% more babies do not survive their first year compared to babies born in more affluent areas.

• Health gaps between socioeconomic groups widen as people age: 6% more girls and 5% more boys report poor health in the least affluent households compared to those in the most affluent households. This gap rises to 19% more women and 17% more men during working age, and peaks among those aged 65 and over with 22% more women and 21% more men reporting poor health in the least affluent households compared to the most affluent households.

• The accumulated poor health of those with fewer economic and social resources when entering later life predicts their higher risk of poverty and social exclusion, loss of independent living and more rapidly declining health.

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Will population ageing spell the end of the welfare state? A review of evidence and policy options

European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, September 2019

This brief serves as an overview and introduction to the Economics of Healthy and Active Ageing series. It reviews the main evidence on the health and long-term care costs associated with ageing populations to better understand the expected cost pressures due to changing demographics. At the same time, the brief explores how older populations can and do contribute meaningfully both in economic and societal terms, particularly if they are able to remain healthy and active into later life. The brief concludes by reviewing selected policy areas that have been shown to either support the health and activity of older people or which otherwise reinforce sustainable care systems more broadly in the context of population ageing.

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Support for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities in England

National Audit Office, September 2019

This report assesses how well children with special education needs and disabilities are being supported in schools in England.  The report finds that the system for supporting children with SENDS is not financially sustainable and calls for the government to secure improvements in quality and sustainability which are needed to ensure value for money.

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