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 Metabolically Dysfunctional-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD), formerly known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), affected 1.3 billion people around the globe in 2023, according to a new study published in The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology journal today.

The alarming study estimates the numbers to further spike by over 38 percent to reach 1.8 billion cases by 2050, causing substantial health and economic impacts worldwide.

The research, based on the Global Burden of Disease study across 204 countries and territories, showed that MASLD remains one of the most prevalent and rapidly growing liver conditions worldwide, with its prevalence marking a 143 percent increase between 1990 and 2023.

What Is MASLD? What Is Driving The Surge?

MASLD is an umbrella term for liver conditions that develop in the presence of 1 or more cardiometabolic risk factors—including high blood sugar, elevated body mass index (BMI), and hypertension—but in the absence of other causes of liver fat accumulation.

MAFLD, previously known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, can be defined by excess liver fat accumulation (more than 5 per cent of liver weight) in the presence of metabolic dysfunction, independent of alcohol intake.

It encompasses a spectrum from simple steatosis to steatohepatitis, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma.

According to the study authors, the rising cases are primarily driven by global population growth in combination with changes in lifestyle, such as rising obesity and high blood sugar levels.

MASLD Lancet Study: Who Is More Affected?

The findings highlight that MASLD is increasingly affecting younger adults in low- and middle-income countries, amid urbanization and lifestyle changes.

Some regions, including North Africa and the Middle East, had disproportionately higher rates of MASLD compared with other regions.

India has shown a sharp rise in MASLD prevalence, up 23.19 per cent from 1990 to 2023. India’s age-standardized MASLD prevalence rate rose from 10,191 per 100,000 in 1990 to 12,555 per 100,000 in 2023. The findings show that the spike is increasingly driven by rising metabolic risk factors, including high blood sugar and obesity.

Also read: Why Metabolic Fatty Liver Disease Is Rising as India’s Most Common Liver Condition

The study examined 3 modifiable risk factors —smoking, high BMI, and high fasting plasma glucose. Of these, high fasting plasma glucose contributed the most to MASLD-related disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) globally, accounting for 2.2 per 100,000 people in 2023.

High BMI ranked second at 1.4 per 100,000, followed by smoking at 1.0 per 100,000. In North Africa and the Middle East, elevated fasting glucose alone contributed 9.13 DALYs per 100,000, approximately 4 times the global average.

Notably, men had higher age-standardized prevalence rates than women. However, women older than age 69 had higher DALY rates than men of the same age.

MASLD: Signs To Watch For? How To Prevent?

People with obesity, diabetes, central or abdominal fat, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and insulin resistance are more likely to have MASLD. Obesity is the strongest risk factor, with the likelihood rising steeply from overweight to severe obesity.

Other signs to watch for include

• persistent fatigue
• Digestive issues and bloating
• Unexplained weight gain or difficulty losing weight
• Skin changes

Rapid dietary transition towards ultra-processed, high-calorie foods compounds the risk. Thus, a balanced diet without or with very low sugar and ultra-processed food, which helps in control of diabetes and cholesterol can help slow down disease progression. Regular physical activity also improves insulin sensitivity.

The number of children who have died from a mysterious illness in the northern state of Rajasthan has risen to 13, as health officials continue efforts to determine the cause.

According to media reports, a six-year-old girl from Bhugabhatt village of Gram Panchayat Bharkundi was the latest victim on Sunday (April 12) morning. There was another death from this mysterious illness on Saturday, Udaipur Times reported.

So far, seven children have reportedly died from the Lasadiya of Salumbar district six succumbed from Parsola village in the state's Pratapgarh district.

Notably, two children died in Dholi Magri and two in Mahudi Kheda, as per administrators Narayanlal Meena of Ambav and Shankarlal Meena of Lohagarh from the Dhariyawad subdivision of Pratapgarh district. However, the authorities are yet to find a link between the two.

All children reportedly experienced a sudden onset of fever that worsened rapidly, and claimed the lives of children within 24 hours.

The Health officials noted that at least 85 children were hospitalized with similar symptoms.

Speaking to the media, Salumber’s district collector, Muhammed Junaid, said that two teams from the health department have been monitoring the situation constantly for the last few days.

“They have collected blood, stool, and saliva samples from children with suspected symptoms. Their samples have been sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune. We suspect it could be a kind of viral encephalitis, but we are yet to get the test report from NIV,” Junaid said

The Health Department has also started a door-to-door survey in the sub-division.

Junaid noted that the survey was conducted across 120,961 houses in the Udaipur division, during which over 940 children were found with similar symptoms.

The local MLA has written a letter to Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma demanding an investigation into the matter.

Earlier, mosquito-borne viral encephalitis (brain infection) or a Chandipura virus variant was suspected to be the reason behind the illness and deaths. However, lab confirmation is still pending. Samples have been collected and sent for testing.

"Anti-larval activity has also been carried out in 5,532 places after medical teams suspected viral encephalitis,” Junaid said.

What Is Encephalitis?

Encephalitis is the inflammation of the brain, caused by viral or bacterial infections, or by immune cells mistakenly attacking the brain.

People with encephalitis often show mild flu-like symptoms such as

• fever,
• fatigue,
• headache,
• body aches,
• confusion,
• seizures,
• changes in behavior or personality.

What Is The Chandipura Virus Disease?

Chandipura virus is a type of arbovirus that is a member of the vesicular virus genus of the Rhabdoviridae family. It is transmitted primarily through phlebotomine sandflies and sometimes through ticks and mosquitoes.

First identified in India in 1965, the virus is named after the Chandipura village in Maharashtra where it was initially isolated.

Its symptoms include:

• sudden onset of high-grade fever,
• diarrhea,
• vomiting,
• seizures,
• altered sensorium which can ultimately lead to death within 24 to 72 hours.

How To Prevent?

The risk of getting encephalitis can be reduced by protecting oneself from mosquito bites and staying up-to-date with vaccinations.

One must ensure getting vaccinated against mumps, chickenpox, measles, and rubella.

Vector control measures such as the use of insecticides, bed nets, wearing full-sleeved clothes, and improving sanitation can also help prevent the disease.

Some feel anxious because of work pressure, but there are others who feel agitated and stressed when they are not engaged. Legendary Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan falls into the latter group. The 83-year-old has never really retired and has continued to entertain his fans and rule their hearts through his work. Over the years, there have been several interviews about his routine, discipline, and how the actor likes to stay busy. In a recent blog, he opened up about feeling anxious and uneasy when he does not work every day.

In his blog, Mr Bachchan wrote, “You wonder why the day is not behaving the way you normally wish it to be. So, if there is some understanding of this element within us, then ‘may there be peace and calm around us’, but for some, it never happens, and that is an added anxiety. Living in anxiety, they say, is harmful for the mind and body, and leading an anxious day on the weakness of this phenomenon is unnecessary (sic).”

Through his post, the 'Piku' actor revealed that a day spent lazing around seems 'disturbing.' He continued to say that when one does not work every day as per a schedule, the day becomes a 'mystery of deeds', which hints at the importance of structure and how a strong routine can shape one's mental health. But what contributes to the anxiety of not being occupied?

Why do some people feel anxious when not working?

According to experts, many people underestimate the importance of a routine for mental health. Humans are wired to depend on structure for stability, and when that is eliminated, the mind has to reorganise internally. This does not come easily. However, from a psychological perspective, this can lead to an excessive cognitive load, triggering a stress response. This stress response can manifest as anxiety, uneasiness, irritability, or restlessness.

How to cope with the stress on a lazy day?

Experts say that unproductiveness need not be associated with work itself—one can also engage in household chores or a hobby to feel productive and engaged. On a free day with no schedule, creativity can offer an escape. One can try going for a walk, cooking, taking breaks from screens every few minutes, and even playing sports. This helps regulate the nervous system. It can support not just physical but also emotional recovery. This way, when the brain takes a break, it does not feel empty and recovers faster.

How to feel productive on your day off?

When not at work, there are some simple ways to avoid falling into a slump. You can take a break and still be productive, and here are some simple ways to do so:

1. Organise: If you spot clutter in any part of the house, work towards organising it better. This activity is not exhausting and is also a good way to feel productive.
2. Prepare meals: On your day off, prepare yourself a fancy meal. Not only does this engage the creative side of your mind, but it also releases happy hormones.
3. Sightseeing: If you are willing to go out on your day off, pick a spot in the city that you have never visited and go sightseeing. Even getting dressed for a day out can help you feel rejuvenated.
4. Engage in sports: Engaging in sports is a good way to take a break from busy workdays. Go swimming or play a sport such as tennis or badminton, and the activity will help release happy hormones.