Doncaster ranks among five lowest cities in winter wellbeing pressure study

Darker days can make keeping up with outdoor activities and social plans more difficult during winter.

A ranking by Manhattan Mental Health Counseling compared 40 English cities using six weather, physical inactivity and wellbeing indicators.

Doncaster ranks 37th, placing it among the five lowest cities on the study’s combined winter wellbeing pressure index.

Its rainfall figure for the October-to-February measure is 48.11mm, compared with Sheffield’s 78.57mm and Leeds’ 105.24mm.

However, Doncaster’s physical inactivity rate is 26.8%, higher than Sheffield’s 20.7% and Leeds’ 22.6%.

Sheffield ranks 15th, while Leeds places fifth. Bradford leads the ranking, followed by Wakefield and Lancaster.

Steven Buchwald, spokesperson for Manhattan Mental Health Counseling, said: “Doncaster’s position shows why several indicators need to be considered together. Its relatively low rainfall figure sits alongside a higher physical inactivity rate than some neighbouring cities, so the overall result should not obscure individual challenges.”

Methodology: Six indicators covering October-to-February weather, physical inactivity, personal wellbeing, and loneliness and social wellbeing were combined to rank 40 English cities. The index does not measure diagnosed seasonal depression.

Full data and Methodology: View the full ranking