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."

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men in the UK. The country records around 55,000 new prostate cancer cases and nearly 12,000 deaths every year.

Although the UK recently ruled out universal prostate cancer screening, opting instead for targeted screening of high-risk men, new cases continue to emerge every day. The latest high-profile figures diagnosed with the disease are former Liverpool winger John Barnes and comedian Bobby Davro.

John Barnes Calls Prostate Cancer A ‘Taboo Subject’

Barnes revealed that he had his prostate removed following a cancer diagnosis and described the condition as a "taboo subject" for men.

"Not many people know and it’s a bit of a taboo subject because we support women with breast cancer and it’s not even an issue," he told Times Radio.

Barnes stressed that "a lot of men don’t want to admit it or want to have it done because it makes them feel less than a man."

He added: "Men have to bite the bullet and swallow their pride and admit if they have problems."

Also read: Jill Biden Opens Up About Joe Biden’s Lifelong Cancer Battle

Bobby Davro Reveals Symptom Before Diagnosis

Meanwhile, 67-year-old Bobby Davro spoke on This Morning about his diagnosis, revealing that he had experienced erectile dysfunction beforehand.

Speaking on the ITV show, Davro said: "I think one in eight men get it. I think a lot of men of color, they get more prostate cancer, so it’s got to be checked.

"So go along and have your PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) checked, have the old prostate examined."

Davro continued: "He [the doctor] said: 'It’s a bit swollen, I think you should go and have a PSA test.' And it was 24, which wasn’t good at all."

"Not really. The only thing I had was erectile dysfunction. It wasn’t nice. I tried taking the blue pills. I realised something wasn’t quite right," he said about symptom before diagnosis.

Many other high-profile figures have been diagnosed with prostate cancer, including former UK Prime Minister David Cameron, BBC radio host Bob Harris, and six-time Olympic gold medalist Chris Hoy.

Despite the high burden of disease, the UK currently has no national prostate cancer screening program because of concerns over the accuracy of PSA tests. However, there has been growing pressure in recent years to introduce routine screening.

Read More: Benjamin Netanyahu Undergoes Treatment For Early-stage Prostate Cancer

What Do The New Guidelines Say?

After reviewing the latest evidence, the National Screening Committee (NSC) recommended against broad population-wide screening for prostate cancer.

The committee said the harms of screening outweigh the benefits for most groups. The final guidance states that routine screening should not be offered to:

• All men
• Black men, despite their risk being nearly double that of the general population
• Men with a family history of prostate cancer, as the disease is common enough that family history alone does not sufficiently narrow risk

Who Is Eligible For Targeted Screening?

Instead, the NSC recommends:

• Targeted prostate cancer screening involving PSA testing every two years for men aged 45 to 61
• Screening only for men who carry a pathogenic BRCA2 gene variant
• Screening for those who also have a family history of breast, ovarian, pancreatic, or prostate cancer

Symptoms To Watch For

The prostate is a small walnut-shaped gland in men that produces seminal fluid, which nourishes and transports sperm. Prostate cancer develops when abnormal cells begin growing in the gland.

Common symptoms include:

• Blood in the urine or semen
• Difficulty urinating
• Erectile dysfunction
• Reduced force in the urine stream
• Bone pain
• Unexplained weight loss.

Alkem Laboratories today announced the launch of semaglutide in single-shot pre-filled syringes in multiple dose strengths, with prices starting at Rs 350.

The company, in a statement, said it is the first in India to introduce semaglutide in a single-shot pre-filled syringe format for the management of Type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity as an adjunct to diet and exercise.

The ready-to-use format will expand treatment options for patients while lowering entry barriers through affordable pricing.

“Semaglutide has the potential to change how we manage metabolic disorders. With the launch of our pre-filled syringes, we are widening the choice available to doctors and patients, alongside the pen options we have already introduced,” said Dr. Vikas Gupta, Chief Executive Officer of Alkem Laboratories.

“In India, where we are seeing a continuous rise in disease burden, offering multiple, practical drug delivery formats is an important step in helping more patients start and stay on the therapy,” he added.

Alkem noted that it has received approval from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) to manufacture and market semaglutide pre-filled syringes.

Also read: India To Tighten Regulation For Semaglutide, Other GLP-1 Drugs

The launch follows Alkem’s introduction of semaglutide in pre-filled disposable and reusable injection pen formats in the Indian market in March 2026. The company has also secured regulatory approval for semaglutide vials, which it plans to launch soon.

Meanwhile, domestic peers such as Torrent Pharma and Dr Reddy’s have also introduced non-infringing tablets, with Lupin, Sun Pharma and several others expected to follow suit.

Semaglutide: Risks Vs Benefits

In people with type 2 diabetes, Harvard Health noted that the body's cells are resistant to the effects of insulin and the body does not produce enough insulin, or both. This is when GLP-1 agonists stimulate the pancreas to release insulin and suppress the release of another hormone called glucagon.

These drugs also act in the brain to reduce hunger and act on the stomach to delay emptying, so you feel full for a longer time. These effects can lead to weight loss, which can be an important part of managing diabetes.

Notably, semaglutide is not just a glucose-lowering drug, it improves weight and has proven cardiovascular, liver, and renal benefits.

Read More: Pairing Ozempic With Exercise Is Beneficial For Your Muscles, Study Finds

Wider availability could therefore help reduce long-term complications such as heart disease and kidney failure. If used appropriately, this could indeed be a major step forward in total metabolic care, the experts said.

“The increasing affordability of GLP-1 receptor agonists is a double-edged development. On one hand, it significantly improves access for patients with obesity, type 2 diabetes, and high cardiovascular risk, conditions that are highly prevalent in India. These drugs have demonstrated meaningful benefits in weight reduction, glycemic control, and even cardiovascular risk reduction, which could translate into long-term public health gains,” Dr Vivek Bindal, Senior Director & Head, Bariatric and Robotic Surgery, at Max Healthcare, told HealthandMe.

Western Australia is seeing a steady rise in mpox infections, with seven cases reported during the past week, according to the Department of Health.

In a statement, the department said that 22 mpox cases have been reported in Western Australia so far in 2026. The figure marks a significant increase compared with 2025, when 27 cases were recorded throughout the entire year, and 2024, which saw 23 cases.

Health Authorities Urge Vigilance

Health officials have advised the public to remain alert for symptoms of the disease. Public health investigations and contact tracing are also underway to prevent further transmission.

Nineteen of the cases were acquired locally, while three were linked to overseas travel. Two of the cases reported this year were in cisgender women, a first for Western Australia. Another two cases were reported in heterosexual men, the officials said.

Dr. Paul Armstrong, Director of Communicable Disease Control, said the department was working closely with affected individuals and their contacts to help prevent further spread of the virus.

“Mpox is a viral infection that typically causes mild illness, including fever, headache, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, or fatigue, followed by a skin rash or lesions,” Dr Armstrong said.

“It does not spread easily between people and is mainly transmitted through very close or intimate contact with an infected person.

“While anyone can contract mpox, recent cases in Australia and internationally have occurred more commonly among sexually active gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men,” the expert said.

Vaccination Recommended For High-Risk Groups

Dr Armstrong encouraged eligible people in Western Australia to consider vaccination, particularly before travelling to countries experiencing mpox transmission.

“The mpox vaccine is available through sexual health clinics and participating GPs for people at higher risk of exposure,” he said.

“Two doses are recommended for optimal protection, and vaccination can reduce the risk of infection and severe disease.”

Anyone concerned they may have been exposed to mpox, or experiencing symptoms consistent with the infection, should call ahead before attending a healthcare facility so appropriate precautions can be arranged.

What Is Mpox?

Mpox is a viral disease caused by the monkeypox virus, which belongs to the same family of viruses as smallpox.

The virus spreads through close physical contact with an infected person, contaminated materials, or infected animals.

The illness generally lasts between two and four weeks and resolves on its own. However, severe disease can occur, particularly in children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems.

Complications may include secondary infections, respiratory problems, and, in rare cases, death.

How Can Mpox Be Prevented?

Also read: India Makes Significant Progress In Maternal Care, Nutrition And Child Immunization: NFHS-6

Vaccination: Vaccines originally developed for smallpox can help protect against mpox. Health authorities recommend vaccination for people at higher risk of exposure.

Good Hygiene: Regular handwashing, avoiding close contact with infected individuals and contaminated materials, and following public health guidance can reduce the risk of infection.

Early Detection And Monitoring: People who develop symptoms or believe they may have been exposed should seek medical advice promptly. Laboratory testing, including RT-PCR, is available to confirm infection and support timely treatment and contact tracing.