Large inequality gaps persist for mental health indicators in Northern Ireland
Date published:
New official statistics in development published 10/09/2025, by NISRA statisticians in the Department of Health reveal that large inequality gaps continue to exist for mental health indicators in Northern Ireland.
Prescription rates for mood and anxiety disorders increased regionally and for the most and least deprived areas between 2019 and 2023, with the rate in the most deprived areas two-thirds higher than in the least deprived areas.
Health inequalities in Northern Ireland are examined through the Northern Ireland health and social care inequalities monitoring system (HSCIMS).
Key findings
- Deprivation gaps for male and female life expectancies at birth saw no change since 2017-19 with the most-least deprivation gaps stood at 7.3 years for males and 5.2 years for females in 2021-23.
- Following a downward trend in male and female life expectancies between 2017-19 and 2020-22 in Northern Ireland and the most and least deprived areas, estimates have largely returned to pre-pandemic levels.
- There were improvements observed across all areas for treatable mortality. The opposite was true for preventable mortality which worsened over the period both regionally, and in the most and least deprived areas.
- The rate of respiratory deaths in the most deprived areas among persons aged under 75 years was almost three and a half times the rate in the least deprived areas.
- In 2021-23 the suicide mortality rate in the most deprived areas was almost three times the rate observed in the least deprived areas, with the gap widening over the analysed period.
- Alcohol and drug related indicators continue to show some of the largest health inequalities monitored in Northern Ireland.
- The rate of smoking in pregnancy in the most deprived areas was over six times the rate in the least deprived areas in 2023, representing a widening of the inequality gap.
- In 2023/24 the percentage of year 8 pupils in the most deprived areas affected by obesity was more than double that in the least deprived areas.
About this publication
This annual publication presents a comprehensive analysis of health inequality gaps between the most and least deprived areas of Northern Ireland, and within health and social care trust and local government district areas.
Further information
For the full PDF report please visit: Health Inequalities Annual Report 2025
For the HTML Health Inequalities Dashboard please visit: Health Inequalities Dashboard
For the publication page and associated tables please visit: Health inequalities annual report 2025 | Department of Health