Scottish Health Equity Research Unit

Prevention Watch October 2025 - Scottish Health Equity Research Unit Prevention Watch is a regular Scottish Health Equity Research Unit (SHERU) briefing that looks at prevention as a means of public service delivery to reduce health inequalities in Scotland.

Our October edition of Prevention Watch is out today. This month we look at budget process reforms, developments in housing policy, an evaluation of the Planet Youth pilot for Scotland, and a talk from the Auditor General at our annual report launch.

Read more here:

🏛️ We're here at the parliament with @healthfoundation.bsky.social for the next few days, talking about our latest report on prevention deaths from drugs, alcohol and suicide.

Read the report here: scothealthequity.org/2025-inequal...

5. The refresh of the national performance framework gives a chance to revisit and agree outcomes to work towards, but also drive a better collaborative approach to delivery.

4. There was recognition that the shift to prevention challenges us to rethink our approaches, and to find ways to bring the public with us. The journey to prevention is hard - there is no “template to make the shift”, but there is a clear need to do so.

3. There was also discussion on the wider work in SHERU, utilising action learning set methodologies within local authorities and the importance of space for cross collaborative working.

2. The panel noted the importance of learning from examples, as emphasised by SHERU on other models demonstrated in Ireland and Iceland.

1. Questions to the panel included how best to respond to policy blind spots, managing the shift to prevention and a challange on bringing wider public engagement to difficult decision-making choices.

ICYCMI some insights from our panel discussion at the launch of the new SHERU report out today on how to prevent premature deaths from drugs, alcohol and suicide amongst men in Scotland (a 🧵):

(3/3) He highlighted core statistics and evidence of “wasted opportunities” as illustrated in the SHERU research published today and focused on the need to be thinking about good governance, national outcomes, and spending plans.

(2/3) Whilst highlighting the challenging times for us in Scotland we need to do more to recognise and realise the ambitions from the Christie Commission, published 14 years ago(!), around prevention.

(1/3) At the launch of SHERU's report this morning, we were joined by the Auditor General Stephen Boyle to hear about the work of @auditscotland.bsky.social on how to best deliver on preventative policy in Scotland.

Policy "blind spot" driving Scottish men from poor homes to early grave Shocking report slates Scottish Government for failing to build for future success with joined-up policies to reverse our nation's shameful record on drugs, alcohol and suicide deaths

See coverage of today's report from SHERU on how younger adult men, at risk of deaths from drugs, alcohol and suicide, are a 'policy blindspot':

www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/policy-...

You can find out more by accessing the full report here: scothealthequity.org/2025-inequal...

7/7 The report concludes that Scotland has the ambition and expertise to reduce preventable deaths — but doing so will need stronger leadership, better data, and more joined-up government decisions.

6/7 Drawing on approaches from Ireland and Iceland, the report calls for person-centred use of data and long-term, coordinated programmes that intervene well before young adults reach crisis point.

5/7 As identified in the first part of the report - this sits against modest progress in child poverty reduction and income gains. But structural inequalities in housing, education and work continue to shape poor health outcomes across Scotland.

4/7 We identify this group as a policy “blind spot.” Many face insecure work, low qualifications, poor mental health, homelessness, and justice system contact — yet often receive little support until crisis point.

3/7 Drug misuse, alcohol-related harm and suicide made up around 70% of male deaths in these categories in 2023. The burden is greatest in Scotland’s most deprived areas, driving a life expectancy gap of over 13 years.

2/7 Published as a two-part analysis, the report shows that while men on average do relatively well in income and employment, this hides a subgroup of young adult men facing multiple disadvantages and a high risk of preventable deaths.

1/7 This morning we launched our 2025 Inequality Landscape report at the Fraser of Allander Institute 50th Anniversary conference #FAI50

Poll amongst participants on how to strengthen policy implementation as part of today's SHERU session

We're at the Fraser of Allander 50th conference today talking about our work on Strengthening Policy Implementation.

These briefings aim to encourage dialogue about ways Scotland can strengthen its response to health inequalities by linking housing policy and health equity.

The strategy outlines many actions with the potential to reduce health inequalities but these are all experiencing implementation challenges.

Housing plays an important role in Scotland's health inequalities and requires joined up policymaking, especially now, as Scotland faces a housing emergency

International Definitions and Measures of ‘Affordable Housing’ and Current Local Practices in Scotland - Scottish Health Equity Research Unit and Current Local Practices in Scotland

We're also publishing a linked briefing on international definitions & measures of ‘affordable housing’, which also explores what definitions are being used in Scotland. 📖 Read here:
scothealthequity.org/internationa...

Raising the roof: can Scotland’s Housing to 2040 Strategy help as an approach to reduce health inequalities? - Scottish Health Equity Research Unit Can Scotland’s Housing to 2040 Strategy help as an approach to reduce health inequalities?

🏡 Our new report: what role can Scottish housing policy play in reducing health inequalities? See here: scothealthequity.org/raising-the-...

The Fraser of Allander Institute Economic and Social Policy Conference 2025 | FAI A few weeks ago, we announced our exciting plans to celebrate the Fraser of Allander’s 50th anniversary. As part of this, we were thrilled to announce that we are hosting our first economic and…

7/7 SHERU will be releasing a new report at the FAI 50th conference later this month focusing on the socioeconomic determinants that underpin such high levels of deaths from drugs, as well as alcohol and suicide, in Scotland. Sign up here: fraserofallander.org/the-fraser-o...

6/7 To continue making progress, solutions cannot focus on single issues in isolation. Scotland must take a cross-cutting approach that tackles the socioeconomic determinants of health — poverty, housing, work, and inequality — alongside recovery support.

5/7 These deaths are not inevitable. They are the outcome of interconnected issues: poverty, housing insecurity, unemployment, and lack of access to health and recovery services – each reinforcing the other.

4/7 The profile of drug deaths has shifted. In 2000, the average age was 32. By 2024, it was 45. This likely reflects a generation who have aged while living with long-term disadvantage, poor health, and exclusion from work and opportunity.