Former Coalfields Show Elevated Deaths Of Despair

Researchers Eurwen Williams and a co-author analyzed Office for National Statistics death registrations linked to historical coal-mine records for England and Wales between 2015 and 2023, finding higher 'deaths of despair' in former coal-mining communities. Alcohol-related deaths were 27–52% higher, drug-poisoning deaths 23–53% higher, and suicides 7–19% higher; gaps persisted after adjusting for deprivation and long after mine closures.