It’s all doom and gloom across Greater Manchester as new statistics claim the region is below the UK average for happiness and life satisfaction.
The data also shows the North West is the unhappiest area in the country, according to the Office of National Statistics (ONS).
More than 165,000 people nationwide took part in the study, which measured people’s life satisfaction, worthwhile, happiness and anxiety.
Based on an 11-point scale, the average happiness of the UK stood at 7.38, with only Trafford (7.55), Wigan (7.46) and Bury (7.44) above this from the Greater Manchester region.
And it is a similar story for life satisfaction as Trafford (7.61) and Bury (7.55) were the only ones above the UK average of 7.51.
This is in comparison to other areas of the UK such as the centre of London which has an average life satisfaction level of 8.20 and Antrim in Northern Ireland which has a happiness level of 8.42.
Douglas Inchbold, the Senior Manager for the Manchester Health and Well-being Service, believes the reason for the low-levels is down to income and unemployment in the region.
“The differences you notice between national measures and those of this region are due to the differing conditions of the population,” he said.
“Low levels of mental well-being are associated with greater levels of low income, lack of educational qualification, unemployment and poor physical health.
“There are many initiatives in the city aimed at improving mental well-being in particular.
“For example, looking to improve people’s understanding of their own mental health and what can be done to maintain resilience in difficult times.”
In other areas, only Trafford and Bury (7.82 each) were above the average of 7.74 for those who think the things they do in their life are worthwhile and Wigan (2.66), Bolton (2.76) and Trafford (2.91) were the only ones above the average for anxiety.
However, the latest statistics regarding personal well-being show a year-on-year improvement across the UK since 2011-12, when ONS started to collect the data.
Over this three-year period, there have been small but significant improvements in average personal well-being ratings in each UK country and across all four measures of well-being.
How has personal #wellbeing in your area changed over the last 3 years? http://t.co/aYPKmHv6hq pic.twitter.com/YQGvONmzIj
— ONS (@ONS) September 24, 2014
According to the figures which were completed by more than 8,700 people in Greater Manchester, Rochdale residents are officially the unhappiest in the region falling 0.33 below the average.
Those living in Oldham are the least satisfied with life, falling 0.38 short, and people in Manchester city centre itself think life is least worthwhile 0.29 below the UK average.
While Tameside is home to the most anxious with the area falling 0.23 on the wrong side.
Image courtesy of javi.velazquez, with thanks
