Changing life expectancy: new animation and report launched

Today, we publish an animation and new report on the deeply concerning changes to mortality rates that have been seen in Scotland, and across the UK, since around 2012: a stalling in mortality improvements overall, increasing death rates among the most deprived communities, and a widening in inequalities. 

There is an urgent need to understand the causes of these changes, and consequently what is required to reset the course towards improving population health once again. Our new animation and report, published with the University of Glasgow, set out to do just that.

The three-minute animation explains the changes that have been seen in the trends and why they matter so profoundly. This is accompanied by a factsheet which sets out the supporting evidence for each line of the animation script.

Access the factsheet

The report ‘Resetting the course for population health’, provides detailed analysis and evidence of the changes that have occurred, the most likely contributory causes and the actions required at different levels to address them. A total of 40 recommendations are made targeted at UK, Scottish and the local level. These focus on macroeconomic policy, social security, work, taxation, public services, material needs, improved understanding, and social recovery from Covid-19. 

Access the ‘Resetting the course for population health’ report