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The Wirral is home to some of the communities with the highest depression rates in the country, according to government figures. According to research by the Liverpool Echo, seven of the country's ten most depressed areas are located in the Wirral. But where are they?
Birkenhead Central has one of the highest depression rates in the country, with 29% of residents living with the condition according to analysis of hyper-local health data from the House of Commons library by Birkenhead News.
The figures show depression rates are only fractionally lower in nearby Bidston Hill, Poulton and Tranmere.
When asked why there is so much depression locally, residents drew a connection between mental health struggles and the continuing decline of Birkenhead's towns.
Resident Denis Parkinson told the Echo: "Over the years there's been a lack of investment in people, and this is starting to show as a community that is struggling."
Richard David Cosgrove-Bray echoed concerns about the lack of resources. "It's a nice place to live, but there's no money here," he told the publication.
However, Mr Cosgrove-Bray expressed optimism about Birkenhead's future. "Give it another twenty years, and you'll really see the difference because Birkenhead is starting to come up," he said. He was also enthusiastic about the Wirral Waters regeneration project, adding: "With a bit of luck it'll change the entire place."
The Wirral Waters regeneration project is a huge regeneration scheme which will improve Birkenhead over a 30-year time period. Plans have already been granted for an £18 million logistics hub at MEA Park West, which will include 171,400 sq ft of new employment space.
Former Wirral councillor Alan Brighouse also made the connection between depression and deprivation. He argued the town "needs investment and jobs for young people". Unfortunately, unemployment rates across the Wirral and Birkenhead are still visible to many. Data from the ONS shows that, ending in December 2023, across the Wirral it was around 3.3 percent, but there seems to be a feeling that there is less opportunity for work, even if the national unemployment rate has fallen.
Mr Brighouse pointed to the decline of town centres as a factor affecting people's mental wellbeing. "What has undoubtedly happened, not just in Birkenhead but right across the country, is that shopping areas have declined," he said.
"Liverpool ONE is a fantastic thing, and it attracts huge amounts of people, and there are other massive shopping areas that have done extremely well, but that is at the cost of the smaller shopping areas which have declined," he concluded.
But there is hope for Birkenhead Market, as work is expected to begin on the market - which will be moved to the old TJ Hughes building - in the coming days.
