Disadvantaged women in the North East are dying prematurely as public services are failing to meet their needs, according to a new report.

Research found that in 2021, women in the region were 1.7 times more likely to die early from suicide, addiction or domestic murder compared to in the rest of England and Wales.

Deaths by these causes increased by 15% between 2018 and 2021, according to the report by Agenda Alliance and Changing Lives.

A ‘triple shock’ of austerity, the Covid-19 pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis was contributing to the early deaths, the report found.

Domestic abuse, debt, poverty, mental and physical ill-health, substance misuse, and housing problems were also factors.

Specialist charity Changing Lives has reported that the average age of women known to have died while accessing its services is currently 37 years old. Before 2020, the average age was 47.

The difficulty women face accessing mental health services is a ‘major concern’, with some being refused help due to drug or alcohol addiction, the report said.

The research found that between 2021 and 2022, 81% of women in Northumberland and Tyne and Wear who needed mental health support did not get it.

Indy Cross, chief executive of Agenda Alliance, said: ‘Again and again, public services are failing women in need in the North East. And the consequences are fatal.

‘It is unbelievable that in 2023 women in any part of the country are dying before they even reach their 40th birthday.

‘If this doesn’t serve as a wake-up call to make levelling up promises live up to reality, it’s hard to know what will.’

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