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."

A daily pill could soon serve as an alternative to Wegovy and Ozempic injections, after a recent trial revealed it helped people with obesity and type 2 diabetes lose significant weight and improve blood sugar control. This new once-a-day tablet, which could be cheaper than injectable treatments, helped participants shed up to 10 per cent of their body weight, according to the study.

Researchers note that orforglipron may make these medications more accessible to people who currently cannot afford costly injections. Orforglipron is a GLP-1 agonist, a type of drug that lowers blood sugar, slows digestion, and can reduce appetite. At present, GLP-1 medications are injected by around 2.5 million people in the UK and can cost up to £206 per dose.

What Is Orforglipron?

Orforglipron (LY3502970) is a small-molecule, non-peptide GLP-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) designed for oral use. Unlike popular GLP-1RAs such as semaglutide, orforglipron does not require injections or fasting to achieve absorption and can be taken without restrictions on water or food, according to Phase 1 pharmacokinetic studies. “Its weight loss and diabetes benefits may not match tirzepatide, but the convenience of a pill could appeal to those who prefer not to inject,” explained Alex Miras, professor of endocrinology at Ulster University, to the Independent.

Is Orforglipron Safe To Take?

Orforglipron is being studied for safety and effectiveness in treating obesity and type 2 diabetes through ongoing clinical trials by Lilly. Early results are promising, and further data is expected in the first quarter of 2026. It has not yet been approved for use, as per the official page Eli Lilly and Company.

Orforglipron Price

Eli Lilly has not yet revealed the final price of Orforglipron, as it is still undergoing clinical trials and has not been approved for public use. Analysts anticipate that its cost could be comparable to existing drugs like Zepbound, likely ranging from $400 to $1,000 per month, depending on insurance coverage and market factors.

Lancet Study On Orforglipron

In the United States, patients are expected to start taking the pill in early 2026, with a global rollout to follow. A study done by Lancet included 1,444 participants with obesity across 10 countries, given varying doses of the pill or a placebo for comparison. All participants received guidance on healthy eating and exercise and were monitored over 16 months.

Participants taking the highest dose, 36mg, lost an average of 9.6 per cent of their body weight. Those on 12mg lost 7 per cent, and those on the lowest dose, 6mg, lost 5.1 per cent. Placebo participants lost 2.5 per cent.

The pill not only promoted weight loss but also helped reduce blood sugar levels. The most common side effects were mild to moderate gastrointestinal issues, as per The Indepedent.

Researchers highlighted that the pill could be cheaper, does not require cold storage, and can be taken without specific instructions around food or fasting, making it more accessible to a broader population.

“Having additional safe and effective weight loss options is a significant step forward,” said Naveed Sattar, professor of cardiometabolic medicine at Glasgow University, to the Independent.

“A new oral weight-loss tablet that can be taken alongside other medications without fasting could provide a convenient solution for people with mild to moderate obesity who want to prevent further weight gain,” he added.

“Given its safety profile and predicted lower cost, orforglipron could allow many more individuals, with or without diabetes, to access treatment for obesity worldwide,” said senior study author Dr. Deborah Horn, medical director of the Centre for Obesity Medicine at UTHealth Houston.

“My hope is that orforglipron will become the ‘metformin’ of obesity—a low-cost, widely accessible, low-risk, and effective medication for obesity and related conditions.”

"We just saw it, and everyone is freaking out," told one scientists to the Washington Post on account of anonymity on seeing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) update its website backpedaling on the link between vaccines and autism. The said link had long been debunked, however, the Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr. has echoed the thought, and has a long history of critiquing vaccines and linking it to autism.

The agency's website was updated on Thursday and under Autism and Vaccine, it notes: 'The claim "vaccines do not cause autism" is not an evidence-based claim because studies have not ruled out the possibility that infant vaccine cause autism.'

Also Read: After Lancet Links Ultra-Processed Foods to Organ Damage, New Study Ties Them to Bowel Polyps in Women Under 50

The first header reads: 'Vaccine do not cause autism', the reason the header has not been removed is all thanks to an agreement with the chair of the US Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pension Committee that it would remain on the CDC website, as per the website.

As the Post reported, the scientists did not have any prior information about the changes to the website, neither were they consulted for it. Before the Wednesday update, the CDC website stated that studies have shown that there is "no link" between vaccines and developing autism in infants. The website previously stated that "no links" have been found between any vaccine ingredients and disorders.

Read: CDC Plans Vaccine-Autism Study Despite Scientific Consensus

The CDC's Claim: Autism and Vaccine Link

As per the CDC website, approximately 1 in 2 surveyed parents of autistic children believe vaccines played a role in their child's autism. For this, the CDC cites a 2006 survey published in the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. The CDC notes that these vaccines are often those that the child receives in the first six months of life, including Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (DTaP), Hepatitis B (HepB), Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib), Poliovirus, inactivated (IPV), and Pneumococcal conjugate (PCV) and one given at or after the first year of life (Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR)).

According to CDC a timeline has been provided that shows the correlation between the prevalence in autism cases and higher doses of the above mentioned vaccines. In 1986, the CDC recommended five infant vaccine doses: two oral polio (OPV) doses and three DTP injections. By 2025, the schedule expanded to include multiple doses of rotavirus, HepB, DTaP, Hib, PCV, IPV, influenza, and, at 12 months, MMR, varicella, and HepA.

Autism rates have risen since the 1980s, and while this trend coincides with an increase in recommended childhood vaccines, correlation alone does not establish causation. Autism is believed to have multiple contributing factors, and some researchers have examined possible environmental links. One study reported a statistical correlation between aluminum adjuvants and autism prevalence.

Read: Fact Check: Does Aluminum In Vaccines Cause Food Allergies As RFK Jr Claims?

While the CDC notes that correlation does not prove causation it also mentions that "it does merit further study".

What Are The Scientists Saying?

“CDC cannot currently be trusted as a scientific voice,” said Demetre Daskalakis, who formerly led the agency’s center responsible for respiratory viruses and immunizations. He resigned in August. “My question is, how language that misrepresents decades of research ended up on a CDC website,” said Debra Houry, the CDC’s former chief medical officer who also resigned in August.

However, the spokesman for the Department of Health and Human Services that oversees the CDC, Andrew Nixon, said, "We are updating the CDC’s website to reflect gold standard, evidence-based science.”

The Origin Of This Vaccine-Autism Theory

This originated from now debunked 1998 study, which was retracted after its author, Andrew Wakefield, was found guilty of professional misconduct and barred from practicing medicine in the UK. Despite decades or research no such link could be proven, however, the claim still continues in the political and public discourse.

Kennedy, who had long been anti-vaxxer, also made numerous claims, even though studies have long debunked this theory.

Many years of extensive study has shown that there is no real connection between vaccines and autism. As per a 2019 study, which was conducted over a decade in Denmark, involving half a million children, confirmed that the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine does not increase any risk of autism. Other studies too have confirmed the same, being studied over large sample sizes. It had reinforced the medical consensus that vaccines are safe and essential for public health.

Los Angeles County has recorded its first flu-related death of the season, the LA County Department of Public Health announced Wednesday.

The individual was an “older adult” with pre-existing health conditions. Officials noted that the person had likely not received a flu vaccine for this season, which generally spans from October through May.

Although flu cases are still low in November, health authorities expect the number of infections to rise as holiday travel and indoor gatherings increase.

First Flu Death In LA County

"The LA County Department of Public Health reported Wednesday the first flu-related death of the season in Los Angeles County. “We extend our condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased. This sad loss underscores the serious risks posed by influenza,” said Dr. Muntu Davis, Los Angeles County health officer, in a news release.

Flu activity remains low for now, but it is anticipated to climb around Thanksgiving and the broader holiday period, when travel and indoor events are more common.

Experts advise getting vaccinated at least two weeks before holiday travel or gatherings, since it takes time for immunity to develop.

They also recommend wearing a properly fitted mask in crowded indoor settings, particularly for households with older adults, children under five, or pregnant women.

Flu Shot Guidelines and Eligibility

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone aged six months and older receive an annual influenza vaccine, with rare exceptions for specific medical conditions. Annual vaccination is especially important for high-risk groups, including:

• Older adults, particularly those aged 65 and above
• Young children under five, especially under two years
• Pregnant individuals
• People with chronic medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease
• Residents of long-term care facilities

Timing: The ideal time to get a flu shot is before flu activity peaks, usually in early fall. It takes about two weeks after vaccination for the body to build full immunity, so getting vaccinated before holiday travel and gatherings is crucial.

Flu Shot: Types of Vaccines

Several flu vaccines are available, including standard-dose, high-dose for older adults, and nasal spray options for certain age groups. Your healthcare provider can recommend the most appropriate option based on age, health status, and any contraindications.

Flu vaccines are generally safe. Mild side effects like soreness at the injection site, low-grade fever, or fatigue may occur, but serious reactions are extremely rare. Individuals with severe allergies to vaccine components should consult their healthcare provider before vaccination.

Even after vaccination, preventive measures such as frequent handwashing, wearing masks in crowded indoor spaces, and avoiding contact with sick individuals can help reduce flu transmission.