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."

The NHS in England today announced that 100 pharmacies will offer free cholesterol check-ups beginning this autumn.

The initiative is part of an NHS drive to reduce heart disease and stroke deaths by a quarter over the next decade. It will include free finger-prick blood tests for cholesterol on the high street for the first time.

Who Is Eligible?

People aged 40 to 84 who are not pregnant and have not had a blood test in the past year will be eligible to walk in and get tested.

Eligible people will also be offered a blood pressure check as part of a clinical consultation with a pharmacist prescriber.

The NHS pilot will run until spring 2027.

How Will The Test Be Conducted?

Blood will be taken from a person’s fingertip using a lancet — a small, sharp medical tool used to prick the skin — and analyzed immediately. A pharmacist prescriber can then provide lifestyle advice and determine whether any treatment, such as statins, may be needed.

Patients will receive a copy of their results by email. They will also be offered a blood pressure check as part of a clinical consultation with a pharmacist prescriber.

How Will It Help?

The national rollout follows a successful smaller pilot in north London, which tested 2,493 patients at 61 community pharmacies between January 2025 and March 2026.

Nearly one in five patients were found to be suitable for pharmacological intervention, and 88 people started taking statins.

David Webb, the chief pharmaceutical officer for England, said pharmacies could be a vital first line of defense against serious illness.

He said: “By making it easier for people to get a quick and convenient cholesterol health check on their local high street, we can spot ticking timebombs earlier, helping people take action, and prevent heart attacks and strokes before they happen.

“This is the latest in a series of initiatives involving pharmacies in delivering care previously only offered in GP surgeries as part of the 10-year health plan to bring care closer to where people live.”

Will This Be Scaled Up?

In the first phase of the national rollout, about 100 NHS pharmacies across England will begin offering the checks from this autumn.

Dr Rani Khatib, NHS England’s national specialty adviser for cardiovascular disease prevention, said everyone should strive to be aware of the most common risk factors for heart disease, including high cholesterol and blood pressure, and “know their numbers”.

“This initiative will help people manage their risk factors earlier and reduce their risk of having heart attacks or strokes,” he said.

Alison McGovern, a health minister, said it was “exactly the type of innovation” she wanted to see across the NHS.

“We’re making it easier for people to spot potential problems earlier and take action to protect their health,” she said.

“Early detection can help prevent serious conditions such as heart attacks and strokes, helping people stay healthier for longer while reducing pressure on NHS services.”

How Does High Cholesterol Raise Heart Risks?

Too much LDL (“bad”) cholesterol in the blood can build up inside artery walls. Over time, these fatty deposits — called plaque or atheroma — can make arteries narrower and restrict blood flow, according to the NHS.

High cholesterol usually causes no symptoms, which is why testing is important. Cholesterol can be reduced through healthier eating and regular exercise and, for people at sufficient risk, medicines such as statins.

Amid declining childhood vaccination rates and an anti-vaccine push from the government, the US is reporting a significant uptick in measles cases in three more states.

The states include Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Georgia. Pennsylvania has also reported two deaths, including an Amish newborn, marking 2026’s first measles-related deaths in the country.

• Pennsylvania

Two unvaccinated individuals, including a newborn infant, died, marking the first measles-associated deaths in the state in 35 years.

• Wisconsin

• Georgia

Also read: Measles: Infant Among Two Unvaccinated Deaths Reported In US

Measles Cases Surging In The US

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2,903 confirmed cases had been reported nationwide as of August 27, threatening the US measles-elimination status held since 2000.

About 94% of cases are among unvaccinated people, and children under 5 account for 19% of cases.

This is the highest number of cases reported since the major resurgence between 1989 and 1991, when 55,000 infections and 123 deaths were recorded.

In comparison, for the full year 2025, the country reported 2,289 cases and three deaths.

While two doses of the MMR vaccine are key to preventing measles, the highly contagious virus, the first MMR dose is recommended at 12 to 15 months, followed by a second dose at 4 to 6 years.

The anti-vaccine stance promoted by the Trump-led US government and HHS Secretary RFK Jr. comes as cases are spiraling. More recently, Trump also announced a split of the MMR vaccine.

What Is the First Sign of Measles Infection?

Measles is a serious and highly contagious illness that can be particularly dangerous for babies and young children. The best way to prevent measles is to get vaccinated.

The measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is a safe and effective way to protect yourself and others from this dangerous disease.

Measles is more than just a simple rash and can lead to severe health problems and, in some cases, death.

The first signs of measles often mimic a common cold. These initial symptoms include a high fever that can reach over 104°F, a persistent cough, a runny nose, and red, watery eyes.

These symptoms can be misleading, but their combination is a key indicator of the onset of measles.

A distinctive sign of measles is the appearance of tiny white spots, called Koplik spots, inside the mouth. These spots typically develop two to three days after the initial symptoms begin.

Their presence is an important diagnostic clue, often appearing before the characteristic measles rash.

What Does a Measles Rash Look Like?

A rash appears three to five days after the initial symptoms. It usually starts as flat red spots on the face, near the hairline, and then spreads downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs and feet.

The spots can sometimes be slightly raised and may merge. When the rash appears, the fever may also increase significantly.

Who Is Most at Risk?

While measles can be serious for anyone, certain groups are at a higher risk of developing complications. These include:

• Children younger than 5 years old
• Adults older than 20 years old
• Pregnant women
• People with weakened immune systems due to conditions like leukemia or HIV

A chemistry lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) was shut down and subjected to hazardous-material testing after a graduate student revealed that they may have synthesised dimethylmercury, an extremely toxic form of organic mercury.

The student went to an emergency department after reporting the possible exposure. MIT said the student was not authorised to work with dimethylmercury and that the chemical was not part of their research.

Since the incident, Building 18 has been closed for testing and decontamination, while precautionary cleaning has also been carried out in the student's residence hall.

Even though the student remained under medical supervision, MIT later said that the student's initial blood test showed no sign of mercury exposure. So, why did a slight possibility of this chemical trigger such a major response?

What Exactly Is Dimethylmercury?

Unlike some toxic substances that mainly become dangerous when swallowed or inhaled, dimethylmercury can be absorbed through the skin. Its exposure routes include inhalation, ingestion and absorption through skin. Additionally, its ability to pass through protective materials is one reason laboratory safety experts have historically treated it with extreme caution.

The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration says dimethylmercury is “readily absorbed through the skin” and warns that a severe toxic dose can involve less than 0.1 mL of the liquid.

Also read: AC Becomes ‘Must-Have’ For Offices As London Faces Fifth Heatwave; Here’s Why It Still Raises Dehydration Risk

Even Tiny Amounts Of Dimethylmercury Can Be Extremely Dangerous

The danger comes partly from the molecule's physical and chemical properties. Dimethylmercury is lipid-soluble to break biological barriers and enter the body efficiently. Once absorbed, mercury can ultimately reach the nervous system and cause severe and irreversible neurological damage.

It is also extremely volatile, meaning its exposure is not limited to direct skin contact. It can also generate toxic vapour that one may inhale and get poisoned. Once poisoned, the effects can be deceptive because symptoms may not appear immediately.

That delay can make even a minor exposure especially dangerous as the person may not realise they have been poisoned until significant neurological damage has occurred.

Also read: How To Get Rid Of Heavy Metals In Your Body?

Mercury Attacks The Nervous System

Dimethylmercury is even more dangerous as it is capable to enter the body efficiently, producing delayed neurological toxicity.

Researchers and safety authorities therefore treat even a slight exposure as an emergency rather than waiting for symptoms to develop.

Historic Mercury Poisoning Case Of 1996

The chemical's notorious reputation was further cemented after the death of Karen Wetterhahn, a chemistry professor at Dartmouth College.

In 1996, Wetterhahn accidentally spilled a very small amount of dimethylmercury onto her gloved hand. At the time, she was wearing latex gloves that were considered adequate laboratory protection. But the chemical penetrated the gloves and was absorbed through her skin.

Months later, she developed neurological symptoms including problems with balance and speech. She was diagnosed with severe mercury poisoning and died in 1997.

The case led laboratories to reconsider how dimethylmercury should be handled and highlighted the inadequacy of ordinary latex gloves against the chemical.