This summary looks at the key health, care and wellbeing needs of working age people living in Calderdale (aged 16-66 years). It looks at the most important things to help keep people emotionally and physically well.
The information has come from national data sources. It allows us to compare Calderdale to England, as well as get insight from local people
Good health and wellbeing are important for working age people. This is so they can:
- Work.
- Bring up their children.
- Enjoy time with family and friends
- Reach older age in good health.
Overall, the health of working age people in Calderdale is like England, including self-reported wellbeing. There are, however, some important differences:
Statistics about working age people in Calderdale
Compared to England, working age people in Calderdale:
- Can expect to live in good health for slightly longer. 61.9 vs 61.5 years for men and 63.2 vs 61.9 years for women.
- Are more likely to die by suicide (17.6 vs 10.7 per 100,000 for 2021-2023). Suicide rates have increased faster in Calderdale than England for the last 10 years, particularly in men.
- Are more likely to successfully complete drug treatment. But more likely to die from drug misuse (11 vs 5.5 per 100,000).
- Are more likely to successfully complete alcohol treatment. Although more working age women die from alcohol related conditions (246 vs 199 per 100,000)
- Are slightly less likely to not have a job or be looking for work (be economically inactive).
- The main reason for economic inactivity is poor health.
- The most common health conditions stopping people working are Poor mental health and musculoskeletal pain. This is pain in muscles, joints or bones.
- Increasing numbers of younger working age people are economically inactive due to poor health
- Are more likely to die before age 75 from illnesses which could be prevented. These illnesses include heart disease, some cancers, some liver disease and some diseases affecting breathing.
- Adults with learning disabilities and who use specialist mental health services are more likely to live somewhere safe and right for them.
There can be big differences in health between areas within Calderdale and between different groups of people. These differences are known as health inequalities.
Health inequalities start at the very beginning of life and become bigger as people get older. People who live in areas with more deprivation are more likely to suffer poor health and die younger. The government provides a segment tool which shows causes of deaths in deprived areas compared to least deprived areas. The tool does not show which reasons affect working age people the most.
What helps working age people stay healthy?
This section looks at the key factors which help people have good emotional health and wellbeing and fewer suicides.
National data shows people most likely to have poor wellbeing over a period, are those who:
- Have poor mental health all the time.
- Are often lonely.
- Not able to work due to poor health.
When people experience bad (risk) factors early in life, it is called ‘Adverse Childhood Experiences’ or ACE. ACE can affect the person through their whole life. Some people will have many ACEs. This is sometimes called ‘multiple disadvantage’ and means people are much more likely to have poor emotional health or suicide.
Not everyone who experiences risk factors will develop poor emotional health and wellbeing. Protective factors are the positive things in someone’s life which help them stay well.
Good examples of protective factors are:
- Good relationships.
- A safe place to live.
- Meaningful secure work which pays enough to live on.
- Access to health care services.
There are many other different factors affecting emotional wellbeing and suicide, some good and some bad.
The factors can be divided into four groups. More information on the impact of each factor is being added to the JSNA website.
1. Individual characteristics
Things that can affect a person's emotional health and wellbeing, and risk of suicide, include the following. This can be the result of being treated differently, and experiences of trauma or adversity:
- Age.
- Sex.
- Ethnicity.
- Disability status.
- Neurodiversity.
- Being LGBTQ+.
We also looked at the needs and opportunities for local people who are:
- Carers.
- Veterans.
- Asylum seekers.
- Refugees.
- Migrants.
Locally, one the biggest risks for poor emotional health and suicide is people experiencing multiple disadvantage. This can also limit access to protective factors.
In Calderdale men are around three times more likely to end their life than women. Suicide rates for women are highest in younger adults, but in men rates are higher in middle age. Common risk factors in both men and women who die by suicide, are:
- Having a mental health condition.
- Long-term physical illness.
Living with a long-term condition such as diabetes or obesity can reduce emotional wellbeing.
2. Behaviours which affect wellbeing and health
Our behaviours can also affect our emotional health and wellbeing, and risk of suicide.
Being physically active is good for both mental and physical health. 67% of adults in Calderdale were physically active in 2021-22 which is like England. Active Calderdale is a whole system approach to support and enable everyone in Calderdale to be active.
Negative health impacts, including an increased risk of suicide, can be caused by:
- Smoking.
- Drinking alcohol.
- Taking drugs.
- Gambling.
People sometimes do these things to feel better in the short-term. But in the long term, they reduce emotional wellbeing and can increase risk of suicide. Smoking, using drugs and alcohol are also major causes of preventable illness and death.
Smoking rates in adults in Calderdale are like England but there are big differences between areas. Less than 10% of adults in Lower Valley smoke compared to 16% of adults in North Halifax. Adults with a long-term mental health condition are more than twice as likely to smoke.
Drug deaths are a particular issue for Calderdale. This is despite drug treatment rates being the same or better than England. There is also a strong recovery community. Data from 2023/24 shows that alcohol-related hospital admissions in Calderdale are like England. However, there is a big difference in rates between older and younger working age people. 700 per 100,00 people aged 40-64 compared to 134 per 100,000 in people aged 20-39. This is because alcohol harm builds up over time.
3. Social and community networks
The relationships people have can have a big influence on emotional health and wellbeing. These can be relationships with:
- Family.
- Friends.
- Colleagues.
- Neighbours.
- People who share similar interests or activities.
Being lonely or socially isolated increases mental distress and can increase the risk of suicide. Around 1 in 4 adults in Calderdale often or always feel lonely – this is like England. In Calderdale, fewer adult carers have as much social contact as they would like compared to carers in England.
Feeling safe, connected to others and being able to take part in local community, civic, or cultural events are important. Over 4 in 10 adults in Calderdale attended a creative or cultural event in 2023.
People who live in more cohesive communities with shared sense of belonging have better wellbeing. This includes a lower risk of suicide. A 2023 survey of local people found that:
- Just over half felt that ‘people in their neighbourhood pull together to improve their local area’ (51%).
- People from different backgrounds get on well’ (54%).
People who have experienced crime or live with fear of crime do less well. Compared to England, Calderdale has higher rates of:
- Violent crime.
- First time offenders.
- Areas in the highest for crime deprivation.
The issues people are most worried about in the community safety survey, are:
- Bad driving
- Rubbish
- Drug use or dealing.
Living and working conditions (building blocks of good health)
The conditions people live and work in affect quality of life, emotional wellbeing and risk of suicide.
Economic conditions have a bigger impact on health than healthcare or individual behaviours. These can include:
- Poverty or debt.
- Housing.
- Education.
- Employment.
Deprivation is a term used to describe areas with few of the good building blocks. In Calderdale 30% of the population live in the most deprived areas compared to 20% for England.
Not being able to work due to poor health is a big driver of poor wellbeing. In 2025/26 Calderdale is benefiting from the national Get Britain Working programme. This supports people with health conditions back into work, or to stay at work.
The environment also impacts on wellbeing. This can include:
- Air quality.
- Noise.
- Being near to parks, gardens or countryside.
- Being near waterways.
Despite Calderdale having some beautiful countryside and parks, over 50% of areas are in the bottom 20% nationally for living environment.
Recommendations for Calderdale
These were developed by a group of stakeholders representing all the factors which affect wellbeing
- Ensure people who work and volunteer across a wide range of services and activities in Calderdale recognise how their work helps people to have good emotional health and wellbeing and fewer suicides.
- Ensure that strategies for working age adults say how they directly or indirectly contribute towards supporting good emotional health and reducing suicide.
- Promote and enable people working or volunteering in Calderdale to work in ways to counter the impact of adversity and trauma on wellbeing. Help to promote resilience as part of the West Yorkshire Adversity Trauma and Resilience programme.
- Promote inclusion for all. Recognising that people who feel included, connected and safe in Calderdale are more likely to have good emotional wellbeing. They are also less likely to die by suicide.
- Use data, intelligence and experience to better target resilience building / employment support / housing support at people who can benefit the most.
- Monitor and measure outcomes in relation to emotional health and wellbeing in different groups of people