Living in deprived areas linked to ‘deaths of despair’ w/ University of Auckland Social Sciences Professor Barry Milne: 8th June, 2026

New research has been released which found people who spend more of their lives in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas have a significantly higher risk of premature ‘deaths of despair.'

These kinds of deaths include suicide, drug overdoses and alcohol-related diseases. The findings of the report suggest neighbourhood effects frequently operate independently of individual-level factors, indicating expanding public health beyond individual treatment to wider neighbourhood care may be necessary to help those most in need.

To discuss deprived area’s link to deaths of despair and how best to solve the issue producer Thomas talked to University of Auckland Social Sciences Professor Barry Milne.