Social determinants of health The social (or wider) determinants of health refer to the social, cultural, political, economic, commercial and environmental factors that shape the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age
Some key social determinants of health are: our education and employment opportunities; our housing; our social networks; and where we live and the extent it facilitates exercise, a good diet and social connection. The Health Foundation’s programme of work on healthy lives complements our portfolio of work to improve health care delivery, and draws on our experience of making change happen in complex systems.
Our recent work and content on this topic is listed below.
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Creating healthy lives
This publication makes the case for an ambitious, whole-government approach to long-term investment in the nation’s health. It includes five big shifts needed to embed a shared goal to improve health ...
Over 200,000 more people are at risk of poor mental health this year due to unemployment
New analysis by the Health Foundation estimates that over 200,000 more people are at risk of poor mental health this year due to unemployment.
Welcome recognition that a healthy population is one of our nation’s most important assets
Health Foundation response to the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Longevity's Levelling Up Health report.
Gender divide: a post-COVID recovery must address pandemic inequalities
Mehrunisha Suleman outlines the pandemic’s disproportionate impact on women, and what must be done to tackle future health inequalities.
Comment on the report of the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities
Health Foundation response to the report of the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities.
The restructure of public health must not weaken our climate change response
How can the government ensure that the new public health system is fit to respond to the growing threat of climate change? Genevieve Cameron and Anya Göpfert reflect on what is needed.
Has government grasped the full enormity of the country’s public health challenges?
Health Foundation response to announcement of new Office for Health Promotion to drive improvement of nation’s health.
Vital that government grasps the scale of the public health challenge ahead
Health Foundation response to Health and Social Care Secretary's announcement of a new UK Health Security Agency to lead response to future health threats.
1 year on since lockdown began – our lives have changed but what lessons have we learned?
Jo Bibby takes stock of the past year of the pandemic, reflecting on how our recovery must draw on diverse evidence to build back fairer.
1.5 million potential years of life lost to COVID-19 in the UK, with each life cut short by 10 years on average
New analysis from the Health Foundation reveals the ‘devastating’ scale of loss in the pandemic, with UK response ‘falling short in key areas’.
ITT: Learning support provider for the Economies for Healthier Lives programme
We are seeking a supplier to work with us as a learning support provider on our new programme to improve health and reduce health inequalities through economic development strategies.
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Our analysis explores the connection between #mentalhealth and unemployment, and why action on both is needed for o… https://t.co/agpZ8BeZVV
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