As per the latest data released by Transforming Access to Student Outcomes in Higher Education (TASO) and the Policy Institute at King's College London, the number of UK students reporting mental health difficulties tripled. The estimate reveals that around 300,000 students could now be experiencing mental health struggles. Of the total, 18% of students reported some kind of mental health issue in 2024.

As per the reports, this estimate is triple what was reported in 2017, where it was at 6%. Experts also say that Covid-19 pandemic is "often considered to have contributed to this, it does not explain the ongoing rise in mental health difficulties." Another reason could also be the "changing definition and increasing openness about mental health" which has led to a rise in numbers. The report notes, "This trend pre-dates the Covid-19 pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis. Although these factors play a part in students' deteriorating mental health, they cannot therefore be the only explanation."

How Did The Report Conclude?

The report drew data collected over the latest Student Academic Experience Survey of 93,212 students. From the survey, it was found that there exist significant disparities between demographic groups, with women being twice as likely to report mental health difficulties, about 22% as compared to men, at 11%.

What Did The Results Reveal?

The results revealed that students who identified as LGBTQ experienced the highest rates of mental health challenges. This has actually lessened the hope that conditions for LGBTQ students are improving, which may not have been a positive case.

Of them, 42% are bisexual and lesbian students, whereas last year it was 35% and 32% respectively. The report also noted that mental health difficulties among lesbian women and gay men rose three times the rate of straight people, and among bisexual and asexual people, it was twice as high. For trans students, the number jumped from 25% in 2023 to 40% in 2024.

Is The LGBTQ+ Prone To Mental Health Crisis?

As per the Child Mind Institute, being LGBTQ+ does not cause mental health problems, but because these kids often face factors like rejection, discrimination and violence, they are at a higher risk of challenges including depression, anxiety, and even attempting suicide.

A UTAH Health study quotes Anna Docherty, PhD, LP, assistant professor of psychiatry at Huntsman Mental Health Institute that, "likely with any identity, feeling different - or worse, unaccepted as you are is a significant risk factor of mental health struggle." The data reveals that LGBTQ+ teens are six times more likely to experience symptoms of depression than non-LGBTQ+ identifying teens. They are also more than twice as likely to feel suicidal and more than four times as likely to attempt suicide. In the US alone, 48% of transgender adults report that they have considered suicide in the last year, compared to 4% of the overall population.

What Do These Findings Mean?

TASO's academic lead and professor of public policy at King's College London, Michael Sanders said, "LGBTQ students and women bear the brunt of the rise in declining mental health and urgent action is needed to understand and address these trends."

Scientists have identified a new H1N1 mutation, G155E, in US flu samples, raising questions about immunity and vaccine protection as the flu season begins early.

Early laboratory findings suggest the mutation may make some H1N1 strains harder for existing antibodies to recognize. However, the vaccine’s effectiveness specifically against G155E remains uncertain, and there is no evidence yet that the mutation makes the flu shot ineffective.

H1N1 Becomes The Dominant Flu Strain In US

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) October 2 report, 53 of 55 influenza A samples undergoing subtyping were H1N1, while two were H3N2. No influenza B viruses were reported in this group.

Researchers at the University of Washington identified G155E in 13 of 17 sequenced H1N1 samples collected from hospitals and clinics in the Seattle area.

Could G155E Affect Flu Shot Effectiveness?

Also read: Flu 2026: Symptoms To Watch For As New Season Begins

The 2026-2027 flu vaccines approved by the US Food and Drug Administration target H1N1, H3N2 and an influenza B virus.

Dr. Jennifer Duchon, a pediatric infectious disease expert at Mount Sinai Children’s Hospital, told Reuters that younger people may have had limited exposure to this year’s H1N1 strain.

“What people are a bit worried about is that the H1N1 strain this year hasn't been seen by a lot of younger folk, so it may be more severe in them,” she said.

However, this concern does not establish that G155E causes more severe disease. Flu vaccine effectiveness varies by season and depends partly on how well vaccine strains match circulating viruses.

Scott Hensley, a microbiologist at the University of Pennsylvania, told Reuters that two of this season’s three vaccine components appear well matched to circulating strains. He also recommended getting vaccinated early.

The American Medical Association also recommends annual flu vaccination for people aged six months and older, unless they have a medical reason not to receive it.

G155E: Who Could Be More Vulnerable?

Read More: Flu Vaccine: Why October Is A Good Time To Get Your Family Vaccinated

Antibody studies suggest that people exposed to influenza last year may have antibodies that recognize the new mutation less effectively, particularly among teenagers and young adults.

Researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, including virologist Jesse Bloom, examined antibody responses to influenza A strains carrying mutations such as G155E.

In a preprint posted on bioRxiv, researchers tested antibodies from 260 people in Australia and the US against 148 influenza A strains that circulated through mid-2026. Some G155E-carrying strains were less readily recognized by antibodies, particularly those from younger people.

The researchers suggested that limited previous exposure to similar H1N1 variants could help explain this difference. However, laboratory findings alone cannot establish how likely people are to become infected or develop severe illness.

Should You Worry About G155E?

The mutation warrants monitoring, but current evidence does not establish that it makes the flu shot ineffective. How well this season’s vaccine protects against G155E remains uncertain.

Annual flu vaccination remains an important preventive measure, particularly for people at higher risk of complications. Regular hand hygiene and other basic precautions can also help reduce the spread of infections.

Emmy-winning American actor Christina Applegate has in a shocking news revealed that she does not have multiple sclerosis (MS), despite continuing to experience debilitating symptoms since her 2021 diagnosis.

Applegate, 54, shared the news in an episode of her podcast MeSsy, co-hosted with fellow actor Jamie-Lynn Sigler and posted to YouTube on Tuesday.

“I’m back at square one – that I don’t know what’s going on with me,” she said through tears.

Applegate had gradually withdrawn from public life after her MS diagnosis in 2021, as she navigated the physical and emotional toll of the condition.

She has also become an advocate for MS awareness and chronicled her struggles in an emotional memoir published in March.

Christina Applegate Recalls Learning About Her Misdiagnosis

Also read: Why Multiple Sclerosis Increases Emotional Burden Among Women

Applegate recalled a visit to her doctor when she was told she did not have MS.

“She came into my room and said, ‘Congratulations, you don’t have MS,’” Applegate recalled through tears. “I was, like, not happy at all. Everybody else was so happy.”

Despite the news, Applegate said her symptoms have not improved.

“I haven’t gotten better. I still have to use wheelchairs when I go to the doctor’s office. I can’t walk from the car to the room. I’m still in this. Nothing magical happened when she said, ‘You don’t have MS.’ Nothing magical happened.”

Applegate also described feeling confused about her condition and the uncertainty surrounding her symptoms.

“It’s weird because I feel like I let everybody down. It’s this weird feeling of like I became this, you and I, the poster children for MS. Everything that I was doing, I had a fucking reason as to why my day sucked every day.

“And now I don’t have a reason. It’s very unnerving and it’s really confusing for me.”

What Is Multiple Sclerosis?

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According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, multiple sclerosis is a chronic neurological condition that affects the central nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves.

MS is also an immune-mediated disease in which the immune system attacks myelin, the protective sheath surrounding nerve fibers. Damage to myelin can disrupt nerve signals, causing symptoms that vary from person to person.

These may include muscle weakness, fatigue, numbness, coordination problems, vision changes and memory difficulties.

MS is commonly diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 40, although it can develop earlier or later. There is no cure, but treatments can help manage symptoms and slow disease progression. Some people experience relapses with periods of improvement, while others develop progressively worsening disability.

Why Is Multiple Sclerosis Hard To Diagnose?

Dr. Marwa Kaisey, an associate professor in the Department of Neurology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, joined Applegate and Sigler on the podcast to discuss MS misdiagnosis.

Kaisey said misdiagnoses are “fairly common” because there is no single test that can definitively confirm or rule out MS.

“We don’t have one single test for MS. It’s not like we have something like a pregnancy test that says, ‘Yes. You have it.’ ‘No. You don’t.’ It’s a list of criteria.”

Kaisey said nearly 20% of people diagnosed with MS may not actually have the disease, People.com reported.

“Almost one in five of these people who’d been told they had MS, some for decades, didn’t actually have it. And a majority of them were on medication to treat their MS,” she said.

MS diagnosis typically involves assessing symptoms, a neurological examination, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and, when appropriate, additional tests to rule out other conditions.

Because several disorders can cause similar symptoms, clinicians must evaluate the findings against established diagnostic criteria.

The UK is seeing a rise in COVID-19 infections ahead of winter, with the XFG variant, also known as Stratus, among the circulating strains.

Cases, hospital admissions and deaths have increased, while flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are also concerns heading into the colder months.

COVID Cases And Deaths Rise In UK

Latest UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) data show around 2.46 COVID-19 hospital admissions per 100,000 people each week.

The UK recorded 3,942 confirmed cases in October so far, compared with 4,589 in September and 1,374 in August.

People aged 85 and older remain the most vulnerable, with almost 27 hospital admissions per 100,000 people, more than 10 times the national average. Around 13.5% of this age group tested positive, compared with 8.8% across all age groups.

COVID-19 deaths rose 46.4%, from 28 to 41, in the week ending October 2. Cases increased 13.5% in the week to October 7, according to UKHSA data.

Unusual COVID Symptoms: Red And Itchy Eyes

Also read: XFG Variant In Spain: COVID-19 Cases Rise Amid Respiratory Infection Surge

A persistent cough, fever and sore throat are familiar COVID-19 symptoms. However, eye irritation and conjunctivitis may also signal infection, pharmacist Noel Wicks told The Mirror.

“The COVID-19 virus can enter the body through our eyes where it may cause symptoms.”

Wicks said conjunctivitis, which causes red, irritated and sometimes sticky eyes, can occur even without other COVID-19 symptoms.

“Clinical studies have demonstrated that conjunctivitis (red eye) is present in people who test positive for coronavirus, with rates of conjunctivitis ranging from 2% to over 14%, even if people don’t have any other COVID symptoms. In fact, conjunctivitis can be the first and/or the only symptom of COVID,” he said.

Research involving 6,308 people found that approximately 11% of COVID-19 patients experienced eye symptoms. These included conjunctivitis, dryness, redness, watering and itching.

Signs Of COVID-Related Conjunctivitis

Read More: XFG COVID Variant: What India Should Watch As Cases Rise In UK And France

According to Wicks, symptoms may include:

• Pink or red whites of the eyes
• Sore or inflamed eyelids
• Gritty, itchy eyes
• White or yellow discharge

“These symptoms need to be tackled very quickly,” he said.

There is no established evidence that XFG causes eye symptoms more frequently than other COVID-19 variants. Allergies, bacterial infections and other viruses can also cause eye irritation, so these symptoms alone cannot confirm COVID-19.

How To Manage Eye Irritation

Wicks recommends gently cleaning the eyes, avoiding rubbing them and temporarily stopping contact lens use and eye makeup until symptoms improve.

“Make sure to keep your eyes clean by washing them gently with a clean flannel to remove any crusts. Don’t rub your eyes as this can transfer infection from your hands to your eyes. Remove contact lenses and don’t wear eye makeup until the infection is better,” he advised.

Persistent irritation warrants advice from a healthcare professional. Eye pain, sensitivity to light or changes in vision require urgent medical assessment.

What Is The COVID XFG Variant?

XFG, also known as Stratus, is a recombinant Omicron lineage formed when two Omicron sub-lineages combined. The World Health Organization classified it as a variant under monitoring in 2025 because of its growth advantage.

Although XFG carries mutations in its spike protein, studies suggest its ability to evade immunity differs only slightly from that of other JN.1 descendants.

There is no evidence that XFG causes more severe illness than other circulating Omicron variants. However, increased transmission can still raise hospital admissions by increasing the overall number of infections.