Social determinants: statistics

The World Health Organisation defines social determinants of health as the circumstances in which people are born, grow, live, work and age. The distribution of money influences these conditions, power and resources operating at global, national and local levels.1

Increasingly, it is recognised that these conditions impact mental (as well as physical) health. Recent research highlights how life circumstances can determine mental health and create inequalities between societies and communities.2,3

Browse all of the mental health statistics

Mental heath statistics for groups who experience inequalities due to societal factors:

Our 2016 study 'The Fundamental Facts about Mental Health' follows a comprehensive summary of mental health research, providing a unique handbook of key facts and figures, covering all key areas of mental health.

Find out more

A-Z Topics

Find out more about what can affect our mental health with our A-Z Topics.

Find out more
Graphic of multiple avatars in a grid, showing different people and body types

References

  1. WHO. What are social determinants of health? Retrieved from who.int/social_determinants/sdh_definition/en/ [Accessed 26/08/16].
  2. Friedli, L. (2009). Mental health, resilience and inequalities. WHO Europe. Retrieved from euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0012/100821/E92227.pdf [Accessed 26/08/16].
  3. Marmot, M., Allen, J., Goldblatt, P., Boyce, T., McNeish, D., Grady, M., & Geddes, I. (2010). Fair society, healthy lives: Strategic review of health inequalities in England post 2010. Retrieved from instituteofhealthequity.org/projects/fair-society-healthy-lives-the-marmot-review [Accessed 07/11/16].