A new World Health Organisation (WHO) report reveals that since the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of people out of work, in Europe who trust their governments has fallen by an additional 40%.

The report, written by Professor Benjamin Barr, Improving Population Health Theme Lead at ARC NWC, University investigators and partners from Leeds Beckett University and the WHO have set out alarming data showing a trust deficit is undermining public health across the WHO European Region, highlighting that urgent solutions are needed.

Published on 12 July 2023: Transforming the health and social equity landscape: promoting socially just and inclusive growth to improve resilience illustrates that Europe is in the midst of a serious trust deficit following the COVID-19 pandemic, with people from the lowest income groups showing lower levels of trust in others and their governments when compared to people from wealthier groups, and with those out of work experiencing a 40% decline in trust in their governments.

New WHO data shows that when people don’t feel the benefit of government policies — including on health issues — yet see others benefitting, they turn away from government and other public entities and institutions. The pandemic has highlighted the often-fatal consequences of these inequities, with 600,000 excess deaths in the European Region attributable to low human development and poor investments in health systems.

The report sets out five concrete actions that governments and policymakers are encouraged to turn into reality.