Digital disengagement and impacts on exclusion
This briefing outlines motivational reasons for not being online or using digital devices, and how this can contribute to digital exclusion and other forms of inequality.
Social and psychological implications of fraud
This POSTnote outlines the social and psychological factors affecting risk and impact of fraud against individuals, and policy implications for victim support and prevention.
Disinformation: sources, spread and impact
This briefing explains how and why disinformation is spread. It evaluates real-world impact and outlines counter-initiatives and policy considerations.
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Rapid response
Election turnout: Why do some people not vote?
The number of people voting in elections is an indicator of democratic health. In UK general elections, this number has declined since 1997. Why is this? What could be done to increase turnout?
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POSTnote
Green skills for education and employment
This briefing outlines what green skills are, why they are important for net zero, challenges and opportunities for skills development and related policy issues.
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POSTbrief
Prison population growth: drivers, implications and policy considerations
This POSTbrief examines the drivers and implications of prison population growth in England and Wales, as well as future policy considerations.
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POSTnote
Child food insecurity and Free School Meals
This POSTnote summarises child food insecurity and Free School Meal initiatives in England, highlighting relevant research evidence and stakeholder perspectives.
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POSTnote
Data science skills in the UK workforce
This POSTnote looks at specialist data skills in the UK, including for artificial intelligence. It considers demand and supply, workforce demographics, challenges, and initiatives to increase supply.
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Rapid response
Human challenge studies in the study of infectious diseases
What can deliberately infecting healthy people tell us about infectious diseases? How is this useful for developing treatments, and how do we manage the risks?
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Rapid response
Immunity to Covid-19: March 2023 update
How do our bodies defend against Covid-19? Read how immune responses differ across people, variants, reinfection, vaccination, and current immunisation strategies.
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Rapid response
COVID-19 and occupational risk
Some occupational groups have experienced higher rates of both COVID-19 infections and related deaths. Many people who work within these groups are involved in caring for people or patients that are more likely to be infected, or have otherwise been unable to work from home during the peaks of transmission. Which occupations have been most affected, what factors are contributing to this risk and are some sectors of the population being impacted more than others?
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Rapid response
Impact of COVID-19 on different ethnic minority groups
During the first 6 months of the pandemic, people from ethnic minority groups were more likely to have COVID-19 disease and also more likely to experience severe outcomes from infection, including death. Lockdown measures have also disproportionately affected some communities more than others. What is driving this increased prevalence and death rates in ethnic minority groups? To what extent is it due to biology or pre-existing health? Or does it represent a continuation and exacerbation of social inequalities?
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Rapid response
COVID-19 and the disadvantage gap
Disadvantaged pupils tend to have lower educational attainment compared with their peers; this is often called the disadvantage gap. School closures, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, are likely to have widened the disadvantage gap. This is because disadvantaged pupils tend to have less access to technology, spend less time learning and have reduced support from parents/carers compared with their peers.
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Rapid response
Child and adolescent mental health during COVID-19
Charities and academics have expressed concerns that children’s mental health is disproportionately affected by the intervention measures used during the pandemic. Child and adolescent mental health may be compromised by factors such as strained family relationships, academic stress and reduced social contact with friends. Child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) have been reduced during the pandemic. They are likely to be under strain to meet increased demand. The UK Government has announced funding to ensure that charities can continue supporting those in need.
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Rapid response
Mental health and well-being during the COVID-19 outbreak
Initial reports suggest we should expect a sharp rise in levels of depression, anxiety and loneliness. The pandemic could have implications for those already suffering from addiction, OCD, and eating disorders. Concerns have prompted a number of initiatives supporting mental well-being. These include guidance from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Public Health England (PHE), resources from the devolved administrations, and formation of the Help Hub, a service set up by volunteer therapists.
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