Wirral has some of the most depressed neighbourhoods in the country
Birkenhead town centre(Image: Liverpool Echo)
Wirral is home to some of the most depressed communities in the UK according to government figures, so The ECHO went to see why so many people are struggling. Analysis of hyper-local health data from the House of Commons library found that seven of the country’s 10 most depressed areas are in Wirral.
When asked why depression is so prevalent in Wirral, most people we spoke to instantly made a link between the mood of the Wirral’s people and the decline of its towns. The data shows 29% of people living in Birkenhead Central have depression, and it’s only a fraction lower in Bidston Hill, Poulton, and Tranmere.
Several people pointed to a general lack of investment, not just in Wirral, but across large parts of the country. Denis Parkinson said: “Over the years there’s been a lack of investment in people and this is starting to show as a community that is struggling.”
Denis Parkinson (Image: Liverpool ECHO)
This sentiment was shared by Richard David Cosgrove-Bray, who said: “It’s a nice place to live, but there’s no money here.” However, Mr Cosgrove-Bray is optimistic about the future of Birkenhead and Wirral more generally.
He said: “Give it another twenty years and you’ll really see the difference because Birkenhead is starting to come up.” He was also enthusiastic about the Wirral Waters project. “With a bit of luck it’ll change the entire place,” he added.
Richard David Cosgrove-Bray in Birkenhead Park(Image: Liverpool Echo)
A former Wirral councillor, Alan Brighouse, also made the connection between depression and deprivation. He said: “Birkenhead needs investment and jobs for young people.
“We need to give people hope that there will be jobs and opportunities. If there aren’t opportunities for young people, then it’s far from surprising that they become depressed.”
Alan Brighouse(Image: Liverpool ECHO)
Mr Brighouse also spoke of the decline of town centres leading to people struggling mentally. He said: “What has undoubtedly happened, not just in Birkenhead but right across the country, is that shopping areas have declined.
“Liverpool ONE is a fantastic thing and it attracts huge amounts of people, and there’s other massive shopping areas that have done extremely well, but that is at the cost of the smaller shopping areas which have declined.”