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."

Harish Rana, the 32-year-old resident from Ghaziabad who had been in vegetative condition for the last 13 years is now waiting for his last few moments. A landmark judgment allowed for passive euthanasia in Rana's case. This means without any active intervention, he will be able to exercise his right to die with dignity. As a result he has been taken off ventilator and other life support systems and shifted to a normal bed. His water tube was removed along with a cap being placed on his feeding tube. Health and Me had previously reported on how AIIMS Delhi has prepared to conduct India's first passive euthanasia.

Also Read: Perez Hilton Spent 21 Days In Hospital After Taking Medication on an Empty Stomach

However, it has been over a week since Rana's food and water supply has been cut off. Reports note that he, along with his parents are facing anxiety after he has been denied food and water for over a week.

On March 23, it marks 10 days since Rana has been shifted to AIIMS. Doctors note that every minute Rana spends in AIIMS is crucial for him, and special care is being taken to ensure he does not suffer during this time. His condition is being monitored and doctors are still administering medications to soothe his brain.

A Landmark Judgment For India's Long Debate In Euthanasia

Manish Jain, who represented Rana in Supreme Court and played a key role in securing legal aid for him told NDTV that when the verdict was being announced the entire court was packed. "From the courtroom to the gallery, there was a crowd everywhere, everyone was eagerly waiting to see what the Supreme Court would decide. Both judges became emotional while delivering the verdict; the expression was clearly visible on their faces... I was very disappointed myself. But the family felt that if the verdict came in their favor, it would be a great relief for the patient."

He told the media outlet that when the verdict was being announced the entire court went silent for 10 to 15 minutes and everyone was emotional.

Before the verdict was delivered, both judges met with Harish's family and obtained information from the doctor about every aspect of the case.

Read: Harish Rana Taken Off Ventilator, Shifted To Normal Bed At AIIMS Delhi

Jain describes the verdict saying: "I lost even after winning". He said he had seen Harish himself a several times and knew that he was going through a lot of pain. "13 years is no small thing," he notes. "The way his parents and family cared for him is beyond words. But now the only solace is that the court also understood the situation and gave a verdict that will set an example in the history of the country's judiciary."

What Happened To Harish Rana?

It was in 2013 when he suffered severe head injuries after he fell from the fourth floor from his PG accommodation while he was studying at Panjab University. He had been bedridden ever since, and survived on feeding tube. His father filed a petition seeking passive euthanasia under the guidelines Supreme Court had laid down in 2018 under Common Cause judgment. This is the second time the parents have approached the apex court.

In 2024, the court also suggested that Rana could receive home-based care with support from the Uttar Pradesh government. The home-based care includes periodic visits by doctors and physiotherapists. The court suggested that in case home care was not feasible, he could be moved to Noida's district hospital. However, his parents have noted that his condition continued to worsen. Family advocate Rashmi Nandakumar also informed the bench that "nothing seems to be working out".

"He is falling ill quite often and is repeatedly admitted to hospital," she said. The advocate further added that the family only sought passive euthanasia, which is withdrawal of treatment, and not any active intervention.

Justice Pardiwala also read medical reports and observed, "Just look at the condition of the boy. It's pathetic."

Recent court ruling on this case involves a bench comprising Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice KV Viswanathan that allowed the withdrawal of life support for Harish Rana, a resident of Ghaziabad, who has been in a coma and kept alive on tubes for breathing and nutrition after sustaining severe head injuries following a fall from a building in 2013 in Chandigarh.

Perez Hilton thanked doctors and nurses after his care at the Southern Hills Hospital in Las Vegas. He was hospitalized for 21 days after he experienced complications with the medicines he was taking for flu. In a video, he said, "My stupidity landed me in the hospital;". The celebrity blogger explained that he was taking medications on an empty stomach that led to serious health complications.

Also Read: Harish Rana Taken Off Food And Water Support For Over 10 Days; Waiting For Passive Euthanasia

What Happened To Perez Hilton?

He posted a video on March 23 on his YouTube channel and said, "It was the worst and best thing that's ever happened to me". The 48-year-old, whose real name is Mario Armando Lavandeira Jr, and goes by Perez Hilton said that he had flu for "about a week" and started to take his medications to get better.

However, the biggest mistake he did was taking those medications on an empty stomach. Though, he shares that he has never had food before any of his medications.

Turns out, the medications were hard on his stomach and intestines. After a week of taking the medications on an empty stomach, he developed an ulcer, a perforation and sepsis that led him to be admitted in a hospital with intense stomach pains.

“The first few days were a lot of pain and constant tests,” Perez recalled. “Because they couldn't find where the perforation was.” He added: “Eventually, after five days, I ended up having laparoscopic surgery. Surgery where they don’t cut you up, but they miraculously make these incisions.”

He aid that surgeons used cameras to "literally flip around all of my organs, trying to find the perforation first. Then after flipping around all of my organs, washing me our 'cause I had so much infection in there. So much infection". He also said that his lungs had to be drained out and that his body "kept falling apart". He was also put on heart medication because his "heart got out of control".

Also Read: World Tuberculosis Day 2026: Theme, Origin, And Significance

Due to his long hospital stay, he developed another infection and for two weeks he could not eat normal food. “It was such a slow process,” Perez shared. “Two weeks of just sickness and then another week of getting better before I was released. The last week was hell, because I had already been in the hospital two weeks by then.”

How Is Perez Hilton Now?

Perez is now at home and would continue to receive his medication intravenously through a PICC line in his arm for 10 days. He said it is more effective than oral medications. “When I saw my kiddos—who had visited me—but when we got home we had the biggest, most cathartic group hug. And tears and tears and tears. They were so worried for their dad," he said.

He also said that he learned from his experience of being hospitalized and hopes that his video works as a "cautionary tale" to those who are watching. He said, "I hope this video can be a cautionary tale to some of you. Take medication with food. That's very important. Take medication with food. Don't have it on an empty stomach. Don't end up like me in the hospital for 21 days.”

Every year on March 24, World Tuberculosis (TB) Day is observed. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) data, 10.7 to 10.8 million people fell ill with TB, globally in 2023-2024. This has made TB the world's top infectious killers. While many countries have been able to successfully reduce the cases of TB, there has been resurgence of the disease in Indonesia, Myanmar and the Philippines. While in the United States and in high-income European nations, the infection levels remain low, however, the disease has not been fully eradicated.

World Tuberculosis Day 2026: Theme

This is why, this year's theme is 'Yes! We can end TB!' As per the WHO, this is a bold call to action and a message of hope that affirms that it is possible to get back on track and turn the tide on the TB epidemic, even in a challenging global environment. With decisive country leadership, increased domestic and international investment, rapid uptake of new WHO recommendations and innovations, accelerated action, and strong multisectoral collaboration, ending TB is not just aspirational - it is achievable.

World Tuberculosis Day 2026: Origin

The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that it was on March 24, 1882, when Dr. Robert Koch announced the discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the germ that causes tuberculosis (TB). A century later, in 1982, the global health community recognized March 24 as World TB Day.

In 1882, the disease killed one in seven people in the US and Europe, however, Koch's discovery was significant in the elimination of TB disease.

The CDC also notes that TB germs may have been around as long as 3 million years. During ancient times, TB had several names, for instance, it was called:

• "Phthisis" in ancient Greek,
• "Tabes" in ancient Latin, and
• "Schachepheth" in ancient Hebrew.
• During the Middle Ages, health care providers referred to active TB disease of the neck and lymph nodes as "scrofula."
• In the 1700s, people referred to TB disease as "the white plague" due to the pale complexion of people with TB disease.
• In the 1800s, people called TB disease "consumption." In 1834, Johann Schonlein named the disease "tuberculosis."
• In 1909, Clemens von Pirquet invented the term "latent TB infection" to refer to inactive TB.

World Tuberculosis Day 2026: Significance

World TB Day is held annually on March 24 to raise awareness, mobilize funding, reduce stigma, and accelerate global efforts to end the tuberculosis epidemic. This disease kills thousands daily and is thus a critical call for action on prevention and treatment is important.

World Tuberculosis Day: What Is TB?

As per a Singapore Government Agency Website called Communicable Disease Agency or CDA, TB is an infectious airborne disease caused by Mycobacteirum tuberculosis.It primarily affects the lungs but can also affect other parts of your body, such as the brain, lymph nodes, kidneys, bones, and joints.

The disease is transmitted through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes and usually requires close and prolonged contact with an infectious individuals. It cannot spread through touch or kissing.

Common Symptoms Of TB

• Persistent cough (two weeks or more)
• Persistent fever
• Coughing blood or sputum
• Night sweats
• Weight loss
• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Chest pain