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."

When it comes to weight loss, many try their own ways to drop the extra kilos. While portion control is advised, there are many who turn to starvation just to drop the extra kilos. In 2016, Japanese scientist Yoshinori Ohsumi won the Nobel Prize for his findings on autophagy. These findings facilitated a better understanding of conditions like dementia and Parkinson's disease. Autophagy refers to natural regeneration, which occurs at a cellular level. It reduces the chances of contracting diseases while also increasing lifespan.

Since then, drugmakers have been working towards coming up with a drug that can stimulate the process; wellness and diet experts have been willing to find a way to naturally induce the process by restricting carbs, fasting, and engaging in high-intensity exercise.

What do scientists have to say?

Experiments were also conducted on mice, and it was found that the ones who were put on genetic tools, fasting, or drugs had a tendency to live longer and remain in better overall shape. However, it is still unclear how the same effect can be replicated in humans. In mice, for instance, the effects of fasting on the brain are evident within 24 hours. In other body parts, such as the liver, the effects occur more quickly. Despite knowing that fasting is good for health, experts are unsure about the ideal duration of fasting for maximum health benefits. Researchers say that fasting does not induce autophagy, but it does have other health benefits.

What is autophagy?

Autophagy is derived from "self" and "phagein," which means "to eat." The process involves cells degrading and recycling their components. It provides fuel for energy and building blocks for cell renewal. Post-infection, it can destroy viruses and bacteria. Cells use the process to get rid of damaged organelles and proteins, and it helps counteract the adverse effects of ageing.

Autophagy was discovered in the 1960s, but its importance was recognised after Yoshinori Ohsumi's research. Researchers said that what they discovered protected against diseases like Huntington's, Parkinson's, and some forms of dementia. It also seemed beneficial in the context of infection control, along with protecting against excessive inflammation. New lifestyle books now suggest that the process can be switched on by making changes to diet and lifestyle or by observing a fast.

The impact on muscle mass

A book titled Glow 15 by Naomi Whittel shares a 15-day programme including 16-hour fasts three times a week. It shares a plan that reduces protein intake on some days, involves eating carbs later, and combines all this with high-intensity exercise. In the basic tests themselves, volunteers at Jacksonville University in Florida experienced several health benefits. Some of the participants lost about 3.5 kilos in 15 days. Others saw improvements in lean muscle mass, blood pressure, and a reduction in fine lines. Researchers said that none of these changes could cause harm to health.

Is fasting safe for all?

Researchers note that fasting too much is not a good idea for anyone. Before making drastic or major changes to lifestyle or diet, it is advised to check with a doctor first. Experts look at autophagy with optimism, and studies show that proteins together form clumps in the nerve cells of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's patients.

Amid the rising concern over GLP drugs and their rampant misuse, India is set to tighten regulations around them.

The government is also trying to find out the potential side effects of using the drug. The authorities have instructed the citizens, especially the consumers and medical professionals, to report if they observe any negative reaction with the usage of any GLP-1 drugs, including semaglutide.

In India, there is a strict policy regarding drug standards. The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC), an apex body under the health and family welfare ministry, is the organization that regulates drug standards.

Recently, the IPC issued a public notice for observing the safety of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) drugs, including popular semaglutide, dulaglutide, liraglutide, and tirzepatide, the Mint reported.

Notably, Indian regulatory authorities, including the health ministry, the IPC, and the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), are making enormous efforts to monitor the potential risks of these weight loss medications.

As part of this, the IPC and other bodies are calling for post-marketing surveillance to ensure patient health, identify any previously undocumented side effects, and create a safety net for the citizens.

According to the Mint report, the IPC said in the document, “Apart from semaglutide, any adverse event caused by other GLP-1 receptor agonists (such as dulaglutide, liraglutide, tirzepatide) should also be reported to the PvPI – Pharmacovigilance Programme of India.”

The patients, consumers, and medical professionals can report adverse events (AE) and adverse drug reactions (ADRs) to ARD monitoring centres.

In addition, ADR forms are also available on the IPC website, and there is a toll-free number of 1800-180-3024. The mobile app ADR PvPI 2.0 is easily available on the Google Play Store and the ADRMS software.

Also Read: GLP-1 Drugs: Why India Needs Stricter Rules Now

What is the GLP-1 Drug Mainly Used For?

The GLP-1 drugs are a popular genre of medication that mimics the original GLP-1 hormone in the human body and is responsible for controlling blood sugar, slowing digestion, and increasing feelings of fullness. Several big names fall under the GLP-1 drug category, like semaglutide, dulaglutide, liraglutide, and tirzepatide.

What Are The Side Effects Of GLP-1 Drug?

There are several possible side effects related to the use of the GLP-1 drug:

• One of the most common side effects is vomiting and nausea.
• This medication can also cause general digestive disruption, thus causing diarrhoea or constipation.
• Some other possible side effects include fatigue, headaches, abdominal pain, bloating, and decreased appetite.
• In some rare cases, gastroparesis, pancreatitis, and thyroid C-cell tumors.

Spain’s Health Ministry has confirmed a hantavirus case in a person evacuated from the MV Hondius cruise ship and currently under medical quarantine in Madrid, taking the total number of cases to 13.

According to the ministry, this is the second hantavirus case among Spaniards who remain in quarantine at the Gómez Ulla Central Defence Hospital in Madrid. Around 12 people continue to remain under medical quarantine.

Hantavirus Detected During Routine PCR Testing

The new positive case involves one of the individuals identified as a close contact of the initial outbreak, who was already in isolation and under medical supervision in accordance with protocols established by the Early Warning and Rapid Response System. Health authorities said the case was detected during routine PCR testing and does not pose an increased risk to the general population, Euronews reported.

The remaining 12 Spaniards continue to stay in quarantine and under medical observation, while authorities maintain isolation measures until the 42 days outlined in international protocols have elapsed.

Also read: WHO Chief Warns Ebola Epidemic ‘Outpacing Us’; India Intensifies Screening At Airports

Hantavirus Outbreak Remains Stable: WHO

The new case comes after Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, stated during the 159th session of the Executive Board that no new deaths and infections linked to the rat-borne virus have been reported.

“The hantavirus outbreak is now stable, with one new case in the past two weeks, and no new deaths since May 2,” he said.

According to the WHO, the outbreak has resulted in 12 total cases, including 10 confirmed and two probable infections, along with three deaths.

“All passengers and crew remain in quarantine and under close monitoring to ensure they receive care if needed,” Tedros added.

Passengers And Crew Still Under Monitoring

All passengers have now been repatriated and will remain under monitoring until the quarantine period ends on June 21. Crew members will remain in quarantine until June 29.

A Dutch couple is believed to have first been exposed to the virus while visiting a birdwatching site in Argentina.

“There is no sign that we are seeing the start of a larger outbreak. But of course, that could change, and we urge all affected countries to continue monitoring the passengers and crew carefully. I thank the many countries involved in the response,” Tedros said.

What Is Hantavirus?

As per the WHO, hantaviruses are zoonotic viruses that naturally infect rodents and are occasionally transmitted to humans.

Globally, an estimated 100,000 to 200,000 hantavirus infections occur each year. The majority of these cases are in Asia, particularly China. Most are sporadic or occur in small clusters, linked to contact with infected rodents.

Infection in people can result in severe illness and often death, although the diseases vary by type of virus and geographical location.

The WHO has confirmed that the Andes strain of hantavirus — the only strain known to spread from person to person — is responsible for the outbreak. There is currently no vaccine available for the strain.

Notably, the WHO has not specified the type of hantavirus or syndrome in the cruise incident, but did mention respiratory risks.

The hantavirus is primarily spread by rodents through

• exposure to their urine,
• droppings,
• saliva,
• less commonly through a scratch or bite.