Reasons why people die when the economy tanks - a list ?

[LaurieFairyCake]

I keep seeing this phrase 'have to balance length of lockdown with deaths due to recession'

So, how do people die because of recession ?

1. Suicide due to poor mental health because of poverty

And?

[BreathlessCommotion]

Poverty- not being able to afford heating, enough food. Austerity killed hundreds of thousands of people through poverty.

[Seainasive]

Increased alcohol abuse

[BreathlessCommotion]

The less well you eat and live, the worse your health. This means poor people are more at risk from heart disease, diabetes, mh and hypertension amongst other things.

[CarlottaValdez]

Look at the difference in life expectancy between the poorest and richest areas.

[BreathlessCommotion]

Women in poverty often turn to sex work, which is dangerous. Children often feel pressured to help and end up involved in County lines set ups.

Drug use increases, homelessness increases--not just on the street, but sofa surfing. This has health risks.

[Bitofeverything]

People will put on weight from being stuck at home next to the fridge/less activity than usual. On a national scale, that will have an effect

[Gingerkittykat]

People taking certain psychiatric meds die on average 10 years earlier than the general population due to what they do to the body.

The more people who are stressed and depressed then the more this will happen.

[CarlottaValdez]

More children will die too.

From the Lancet -
Child mortality rates are higher among deprived communities, with poorer children two-and-a-half times more likely to die before they reach adulthood than their peers from affluent families.

[catlovingdoctor]

People losing their jobs; then they can't pay their bills or keep a roof over their heads. Plus struggling to afford adequate nutritious food. This is directly likely to increase risk of death. Additionally, consequent mental illness, depression, and dependence on drugs and alcohol.

[Canyousewcushions]

Right at this minute, reductions in cancer screening and other "non urgent" nhs functions- people will be missing out on treatment that they may not yet know that they need.

Further cuts to the NHS as we need to make up for the damage to the economy and huge borrowing to fund the 80% wage cover and other business support. It'll have to be paid back somehow.

[Grasspigeons]

Asthma can kill, it is also linked to mould spores that are found particularly in poor quality accommodation.

[TexanBlueNeck]

Suicides are probably one if the lower & more direct (easy to measure!)

Ill health through poor (fewer) working choices e.g. drivers working dangerous hours, people taking second jobs

A big one that cannot be accurately measured us the health aspects, physical and mental - heart attacks through stress, obesity through lack of exercise, malnutrition due to having to shop in smaller more expensive shops, not being able to bulk buy to e.g. batch cook a healthy freezer set of meals

Worse life aspirations due to poor education outcomes, very indirect butva huge negative on young lives (negative impact in GDP / economic productivity)

Accidents due to more people being in a situation to warrant their accident type (e.g. a person is killed in a chainsaw accident trimming trees rather than being at work!)

Domestic violence of all kinds

Gender violence (linked to above), including forced marriage (again, linked to self harm and suicide rates)

Lack of support structures in place for at risk children, I'm not referring to free school meals and nutrition but actual direct neglect that would otherwise be spotted during safeguarding activity / oversight at school

Addictions spiralling, not just alcohol but also online gambling and suchlike

[BreathlessCommotion]

All the services that usually help these people will also be cut to save money.

If you have to live in an emergency hostel you won't have proper cooking facilities. Or you might have to live somewhere with a damp problem that causes breathing issues in your children.

[Grasspigeons]

I guess flu and bacterial infections increase when people are tired, cold and malnourished too.

[Gwenhwyfar]

Conditions linked to overcrowding is another one.

[CarlottaValdez]

Are these the sort of things you meant OP?

[userxx]

I don't think there's going to be a recession, I'm thinking more likely a depression.

[Oxyiz]

@Gingerkittycat which ones are those?

[OddBoots]

When the economy tanks then taxes drop and all the services that are paid for through taxation suffer so we have even greater underfunding of medical services, social care, fire service, police service, the forces. It doesn't take too much logic to see how that causes deaths.

That is prolonged when education also worsens so the next generation loose out on a key part of improving out national productivity.

[OhClover]

Increased cancer deaths - not only those currently diagnosed and not having treatment but also those not yet diagnosed due to decreased research etc.

Imperial study put it at 500,000 worldwide after the last recession following the bankers crash.

[GeraldTippett]

Thread not going your way, OP?

[LaurieFairyCake]

That's really helpful, I was struggling to think of everything associated with this

Depression being worse than recession also suggests it will be even more prolonged effects

[Eyewhisker]

According to the ONS, the richest 20% of men in the UK live nine years longer than the poorest 20%. If there is a depression due to the lockdown, many people will have lower incomes and be less able to afford healthy food and lifestyle. This could have a big impact on UK life expectancy.

www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/healthinequalities/bulletins/healthstatelifeexpectanciesbyindexofmultipledeprivationimd/englandandwales2014to2016

[Gingerkittykat]

@Oxyiz Antipsychotics mainly, which are not just used for schizophrenia but anxiety disorders.

They are well known for causing metabolic syndrome, diabetes and heart problems.

Weight gain is also a side effect of many antidepressants and mood stabilisers which of course leads to worse health.

Some light reading here.

[Chris5690]

Also to flip that - if the epidemic was allowed to run out of control how many people would die indirectly?

E.g. the nhs is barely coping with measures - how many more would die if it was completely overwhelmed due to cancer patients not being treated at all etc. No ambulances available.

How would essential services like power and water run if all their staff were off due to sickness, bereavement at the same time?