Health and the cost of living in York

Healthwatch York undertook a follow up report on the impact of the cost of living increases on people’s health. They undertook a further survey to which 200 people responded.

Key findings:

• The increasing cost to living is having a detrimental effect on York residents’ physical and mental health
• York residents are deeply concerned about being able to keep themselves and their families warm
• People are having to skip meals and/or relying on foodbanks - irrespective of what ward they live in
• Residents are reducing consumption of healthy foods due to rising costs
• Those whose answers indicate they are depressed and/or clinically anxious are disproportionately impacted.
• Rising costs are beginning to have an impact in households that had previously reported as managing.
• York residents are adapting by changing their spending and living habits, dipping into their savings, and increasing their borrowing.
• Feelings of isolation are exasperated by not being able to afford associated costs with socialising such as transport

This second survey found that as well as the worsening of existing conditions, not being able to heat homes over winter has resulted in damp and mould in people’s homes. This can further exacerbate existing health conditions and result in new health conditions.

The first survey found that there had been an increase in feelings of anxiety around money. In this survey Healthwatch used the GAD-2 and PHQ-2 measures of anxiety and depression. This second report shows that those measuring as having depression and/or anxiety had been disproportionately affected by the rising cost of living.

The March 2023 survey indicates that respondents are less likely to consider themselves to have been impacted by the rise in cost of living (88.44%) than December 2022 (85%). However, responses show that individuals are changing their habits to adapt.

Additionally, in the December 2022 survey, 69.54% respondents said that their health had been affected by the cost of living compared to just 54.5% of respondents in March 2023. This is perhaps indicative of a trend towards acceptance or even apathy towards the effects of the rising costs.

Within the March 2023 survey, many respondents identified themselves to be financially secure despite having to cut back on basic necessities such as food and warmth. Again, this suggests increased acceptance of, or possibly resignation to, the challenges of living with less.