Health Inequality Essay

Question 1

Introduction

Answer 1

Some would argue that how people choose to live is a major cause of health inequality in the UK. The freedom of choice people have can often lead them to damage their health. However, others would argue it in fact comes down to the level of poverty some experience throughout their lives. This can have multiple impacts and put up barriers from day to day. Ultimately this response will argue that poverty is a greater contributor to poor health in the UK.

Question 2

Alcohol
Describe

Answer 2

Drinking alcohol can cause major disruptions in our body as well as mind, which can lead to serious harm to our wellbeing, for example the development of cancer in the bowels, liver and throat, as well as the onset of depression and anxiety. Some countries are more affected by alcohol such as Scotland.

Question 3

Alcohol
Example

Answer 3

For example, the alcohol related death rate is almost 2x higher in Scotland than in England.

Question 4

Alcohol
Analysis

Answer 4

This means that the lifestyle choice of Scottish people can often lead them to consuming alcohol which if taken excessively, can lead to the consumer’s death, proving that the death rate in Scotland is much higher than in comparison to England.

Question 5

Alcohol - poverty
Describe

Answer 5

People are more likely to drink when they are in poverty as they have no access to social clubs, or anywhere to socialise in as areas of deprivation do not get enough funding to support these social aspects of our lives. This means that people in these areas turn to drink to cure their boredom.

Question 6

Alcohol - poverty
Evidence

Answer 6

For example, the areas with the highest alcohol deaths are Inverclyde and Glasgow which are both areas with high deprivation.

Question 7

Alcohol - poverty
Analysis

Answer 7

This shows that areas with higher deprivation are more likely to experience alcohol related deaths as these areas are not funded well and do not have reasonable facilities to help overpower the addiction.

Question 8

Alcohol
Link back

Answer 8

Alcohol to an extent can have an effect on a person’s health, as from drinking alcohol can have physical effects on a person’s body from excessive drinking. However, alcohol has a bigger effect for those who live in poverty as they lack the opportunities to socialise and be in positive environments when drinking, resulting in the unsafe consumotion of alcohol.

Question 9

Smoking
Describe

Answer 9

Smoking can have serious effects on a person, varying from different forms of cancer such as lung cancer. A key ingredient of cigarettes is nicotine. Nicotine is a dangerous substance that can stick to parts of the lung which can then cause many health conditions to occur as this is a foreign substance in the lungs, which can lead to the poor health of the consumer.

Question 10

Smoking
Evidence

Answer 10

For example, there are almost 10,000 smoking related deaths in Scotland each year.

Question 11

Smoking
Analysis

Answer 11

This shows that smoking can cause a major disruption to the health of the public as through smoking, the smoker can cause themselves to develop severe health conditions, and could ultimately lead to their death if they continue to smoke excessively.

Question 12

Smoking - poverty
Describe

Answer 12

People living in areas of poverty may feel inclined to smoke as they may use this as a coping mechanism for when dealing with stress and depression in their everyday life. In doing this, their life could be seen to be better than that of without smoking.

Question 13

Smoking - poverty
Evidence

Answer 13

For example, by 2021, 32% of adults living in deprived areas of Scotland smoke.

Question 14

Smoking - poverty
Analysis

Answer 14

This shows that people in deprived areas often have a lesser quality of life and are often drawn to habits such as smoking to help to try and cope. However, they are often stuck in the cycle of smoking as they cannot afford to pay to use the right resources to quit, therefore resulting in the poor health of many smokers.

Question 15

Smoking
Link back

Answer 15

Smoking can cause issues with a person’s health as by inhaling the chemicals involved with the production of cigarettes can often lead to the onset of cancer. However, those found in poverty are more likely to experience these problems as they lack the money to be able to take their mind off their situation resulting in them using smoking as a coping mechanism.

Question 16

Mental Health
Describe

Answer 16

Within the UK, men typically are found to have a mental health condition due to the social stereotypes placed upon them. This can often result in toxic masculinity, which is the idea that men should be tough, show little to no emotion and certainly not indictaing that they are suffering or seeming weak, and thus seem less of a man.

Question 17

Mental health
Evidence

Answer 17

For example, 70% of suicide rates in the UK are male.

Question 18

Mental health
Analysis

Answer 18

This means that the pressure to act in this way can see many men choose not to recognise or seek help regarding their mental health, which is a significant factor as to why men are significantly less likely to seek help from a doctor and have a higher suicide rate.

Question 19

Mental health - poverty
Describe

Answer 19

The stress of having to try and provide for their families, makes many men worry about their image and integrity as they will tend to feel embarassed about being in poverty as it is a testament that they aren’t successful or in a good job, making many men feel ashamed of their position in life at these times.

Question 20

Mental health - poverty
Evidence

Answer 20

For example, Health Scotland found that in the 5 years up to 2020 people in the most deprived parts of Scotland were more likely to take their own lives.

Question 21

Mental health - poverty
Analysis

Answer 21

This means that due to the stereotypes of men, they feel like it is their responsibility to have to provide for their family and make enough money that they won’t be in poverty, however, this can’t always happen and when it does, it is extremely difficult for the men to come to terms with poverty healthily, and often leads to their mental health slowly starting to deteriorate leading to the possibility of suicide.

Question 22

Mental health
Link back

Answer 22

Mental health is a serious issue, which can affect everyone greatly, especially men who feel certain pressures within society. However, men in poverty are affected greatly because they often feel embarassed about their social status as they are often told they need to be in a well-paying job and shouldn’t find themselves in this situation, especially as a man.

Question 22

Conclusion

Answer 22

As set out, how people choose to live will increase health inequalities because social standards often leave people feeling disheartened and can lead to the abuse of toxic substances , often affecting their mental health determentally. Ultimately however, this response shows that living in poverty will put people at greater risk of experiencing health inequalities in the UK because poverty has a massive impact on the mental health of the public as having to be labelled as being in poverty can result in the weakening of someone’s self-esteem and integrity often resulting in them having to seek out alcohol and smoking in order to cope with their circumstances.