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."

India’s Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has introduced "healthy lifestyle and mental wellness" as two key priority areas at the First Health Working Group (HWG) Meeting under the BRICS framework for the year 2026 in New Delhi.

HWG is a key platform for advancing cooperation in public health, said Punya Salila Srivastava, the Union Health Secretary while chairing the meeting.

She noted that as the BRICS Chair for 2026, India is guided by the overarching theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”, reflecting a people-centric and humanity-first approach.

The theme underscores India’s commitment to strengthening collaborative frameworks that are responsive, inclusive, and future-ready.

India’s 2026 Chairship

While reaffirming commitment to existing priorities, the Union Health Secretary also proposed two new priority areas under India’s Chairship:

• BRICS Mission for Healthy Lifestyles: Aimed at promoting healthy behaviors and addressing key risk factors such as unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, tobacco use, and harmful use of alcohol
• Promotion of Mental Health and Wellness: Focusing on strengthening mental health services, addressing stigma, and integrating mental health into broader public health frameworks.

In addition, under the country’s Chairship, Srivastava said that the HWG aims to:

• Foster inclusive, sustainable, and evidence-driven health cooperation,
• Recognize the diverse health systems and socio-economic contexts of BRICS nations.
• Integrating traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine into health systems.

The BRICS Health Working Group

Srivastava hailed the BRICS Health Working Group meetings for having paved the way for collaboration on pressing health challenges in the recent year. She said that the HWG made efforts towards tackle communicable and non-communicable diseases, enhancing health systems, as improving access to affordable medicines.

“These efforts have further strengthened cooperation in pandemic preparedness, health technology innovation, and the promotion of Universal Health Coverage,” Srivastava said.

The meeting also deliberated on the nine priority areas, which include:

1. BRICS TB Research Network;
2. collaboration among BRICS Medical Products Regulatory Authorities;
3. BRICS Integrated Early Warning System for prevention and response to mass infectious diseases;
4. Digital Health Architecture for continuum of care, including specialised healthcare in remote areas;
5. BRICS Mission for Healthy Lifestyles;
6. promotion of mental health and wellness;
7. Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCIM);
8. fight against diseases driven by social determinants of health (DDSDH);
9. BRICS Network of National Public Health Institutes.

The meeting brought together senior health officials, technical experts, and delegates from BRICS member countries—Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates, and Indonesia to deliberate on priority areas of cooperation in public health.

The global experts welcomed India’s leadership and the shared theme of building resilience through innovation, cooperation, and sustainability.

They also emphasized

• deepening collaboration on tuberculosis through the BRICS TB Research Network,
• strengthening the BRICS integrated early warning system for infectious diseases,
• enhancing digital health architectures to improve access (especially in remote and vulnerable communities),
• advancing regulatory cooperation
• local production of medicines and vaccines.

Indian pediatrician Dr Sivaranjani Santosh has resigned from the Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP) over lack of support, alleged threats, and false allegations, amid an ongoing controversy over the marketing of oral rehydration solution (ORS)-like products.

The Hyderabad-based pediatrician has been a key public health figure who fought for eight long years to stop FSSAI—the country’s apex food regulator—from using the term ORS by brands of fruit-based, non-carbonated beverages, in October last year.

She again voiced her concerns with the IAP when the manufacturer in January 2026 launched a rebranded version, ERZL for everyday hydration.

Dr Santosh opposed the move and called out on IAP to prevent the launch, saying it closely resembled ORS and could mislead people, especially those in rural areas.

However, she did not receive any support from the IAP, and no action was taken. Rather, she received a legal notice from Kenvue over her comments. Kenvue Inc. is an American consumer health company and was formerly the Consumer Healthcare division of Johnson & Johnson.

The notice from Kenvue claimed that Dr Santosh has been maligning the names of ORSL and ERZL for her "own commercial benefits" and for "increasing the number of followers" on her page.

Deeply saddened by the leadership at the IAP, which she alleged is supporting Kenvue, Dr Santosh resigned. She now vouches to fight alone.

“I thought enough of this toxicity. I'll fight it alone. All this while, if I could fight it alone, why can't I do it?” she told HealthandMe.

What Is The Controversy About Dr Sivaranjani Santosh?

Speaking to HealthandMe, the pediatrician narrated the ordeal – legal notices from pharmaceutical companies, false accusations of her integrity and character in the last few years.

Dr Santosh has been campaigning that commercial beverages labeled as ORS were often high in sugar and nutritionally different from the World Health Organization (WHO)-recommended Oral Rehydration Solution, a life-saving treatment for dehydration.

Her fight began in 2022, when she filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Telangana High Court seeking directions for manufacturers to remove the letters “ORS” from the product name ORSL.

Eight years after the PIL, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), in October 2025, banned the use of the ‘ORS' label on beverages — including ORS that did not meet the WHO standards. The regulator deemed such branding to be misleading and a potential health risk, as many products contained excessive amounts of sugar compared to genuine medical ORS.

However, Kenvue launched a rebranded version, ERZL, in January this year. She again opposed and stated: “ERZL is not ORS. And it should not be given to children below two years of age".

Noting that her messages "upset these people”, she faced a backlash, including a legal notice from the company.

According to Dr Santosh, attempts were also made to gather endorsements from pediatricians claiming that sucralose is safe and to submit these to the FSSAI. She publicly criticized the move, calling it “shameful.”

Further, Dr Santosh also voiced out her concerns against IAP for allowing the company to set up a stall with the controversial product at the Pedicon, a major pediatric conference.

When she raised the matters on social media, the company made the statement: “Our products are very scientific. Some people are spreading misinformation and scientific information”.

The pediatrician also claimed to have alerted IAP leadership weeks earlier, warning that the ERZL’s branding could mislead people—especially in rural areas—into confusing it with ORS.

“We are not talking about the educated people who have been following this. We are talking about the ignorant poor people in the villages,” the doctor said.

She further alleged that instead of backing her concerns, sections of the leadership attempted to discredit her.

Following a series of exchanges and growing tensions, she announced her resignation, citing a “toxic environment.”

Dr Santosh said that "parallelly, the leadership was spreading messages to all the people that I am abusive and I'm arrogant." In response, she stated: "If I have to choose between children and IAP, I will choose children".

Amid the controversy, the IAP released a position statement on ORS and electrolyte drinks. The doctor criticised the statement as “ambiguous” and questioned its focus solely on sucralose, alleging a potential conflict of interest.

She added that Kenvue also marketed for "ERZL as the new form of ORSL", which also bypassed the FSSAI and Delhi High Court orders.

What Is The Way Forward?

Noting that her battle will continue against ERZL, Dr Santosh said she will continue advocating for child health issues in India

"I'm trying to raise awareness about first aid and CPR. I've trained so many people. Now I'm motivated."

The pediatrician also wants to advocate for safer drug formulations, restrictions on over-the-counter medicines, and wider awareness of first aid and CPR.

The list includes paracetamol, which is being sold under various names and doses in the country.

"We want one paracetamol in India".

HealthandMe is trying to reach out to the Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP). The copy will be updated once a response is received.

Amid continued escalations in the Middle East conflict, the Indian government is considering a temporary price hike between 10 and 15 percent for essential medicines, according to a media report.

The surge in prices for select medicines could lead to higher drug prices but potentially benefit Indian pharmaceutical manufacturers facing the brunt of the Iran war.

“The immediate net consumer impact could be 3-5 percent higher prices, or roughly similar to what consumers paid before the late-September cuts in GST rates,” said the report by Economic Times, citing top industry executives aware of the government’s discussions.

The proposal was reportedly floated after several top drugmakers raised concerns about the sharp increase in prices of solvents and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) due to global supply disruptions.

The price hike is expected to remain for up to four months and will be rolled back once the input cost stabilizes, the report said.

Further, it cited a senior government official saying that they have received the industry proposal for a price hike, but the decision to implement depends "on how long the geopolitical tension in West Asia lasts".

Increasing Raw Material Costs Drive Up Medical Device Prices

HealthandMe had earlier reported that the ongoing conflict has already spiked prices for medical devices—specifically plastics for syringes and catheters—due to the rising cost of raw materials. If disruptions persist, it can also warn of potential shortages.

“A shortage of liquid helium could impact the installation of new MRI scanners, each of which requires around 1,500 liters for the initial magnet fill. Supply disruptions linked to the war may delay new installations and push up costs, as helium prices are likely to rise amid tighter availability,” Dr. Harsh Mahajan, Mentor FICCI & Founder Mahajan Imaging & Labs, told HealthandMe.

The expert noted that there is no immediate concern for existing MRI machines. It is because most currently installed scanners use K4 technology with zero boil-off systems, allowing them to operate efficiently without frequent helium refills.

“Typically, a top-up is needed only once every three years, when the magnet’s cold head is replaced. As a result, the existing installed base is expected to continue functioning without disruption in the near term,” Dr. Mahajan said.

Also read: Report Claims Mojtaba Khamenei ‘Incapacitated’: What Does This Mean Medically

Long-term Hormuz Blockade Can Affect Critical Medical Supplies

However, the rapidly deteriorating situations and a longer blockade of Hormuz can lead to “substantial price increases, longer lead times, and highly elevated freight costs, which are pressuring cost structures and planning cycles”.

According to Rajiv Nath, AiMeD, the evolving global supply chain dynamics require close monitoring to prevent impacts on production timelines and industry stability.

The Medical Technology Association of India (MTaI) also warned that the ongoing US/Israel-Iran conflict and disruption in the Strait of Hormuz directly threaten India’s access to critical and life-saving medical technologies.

"Modern healthcare systems operate on just-in-time inventory models with minimal buffer stock. When large consignments - like those shipped by sea - are delayed or stranded, there is simply not enough inventory in the system to compensate, even through costlier alternatives like air freight," Pavan Choudary, Chairman, MTaI, told HealthandMe.

He also noted that shipment delays beyond March 31 can lead to "budget lapse, forcing a fresh approval cycle - thereby compounding delays that often stretch to months". It is because many public institutions in India front-load procurement toward the financial year-end.