Summary

Key Issues: Wider determinants; Excess weight; Mental health; Alcohol misuse.

Across the life course there are factors which influence health and wellbeing of people and the need for services. Some of these are personal modifiable risk factors such as smoking, alcohol, obesity, exercise and a healthy diet. Others are wider determinants, including access to employment.

Overview of key trends:

Key headlines:

• Reducing healthy life expectancy for men & women - “Long COVID” may contribute to more time spent in ill health.
  
  
• Higher than average employment and one of the lowest unemployment rates (3.6%). Residents also reported the local economy a key concern for how Staffordshire recovers. 
  
  
• Two thirds of adults are overweight or obese - higher than national and the third highest among similar local authorities. High prevalence of obesity related conditions and hospital admissions on an upward trend. Diabetes levels are also higher than national and increasing.
  
  
• Mental health (adults) remains a challenge - high and increasing levels of GP recorded depression, but lower levels of GP recorded severe mental illness. Latest data also shows an increase in the rate of suicides (2018-20 – 12.2 per 100,000).
  
  
• In a local survey residents reported changes to their mental health and wellbeing; feelings of isolation, depression, loneliness & anxiety.
  
  
• Higher than average alcohol consumption and highest alcohol related admissions rate amongst similar authorities and rising; in contrast to a reducing national trend. 

To view the latest Data Update on this topic see the data update page.