All posts tagged: health

Prince William highlights importance of mental health support | Royal | News

Prince William highlights importance of mental health support | Royal | News

Published by Sam Flores

Prince William visits a local mental health group in Norfolk (Image: Getty) The Prince of Wales heard how a local mental health charity has been a lifeline to rural communities in Norfolk, with one man telling him he would be unlikely to be here today if it weren’t for the support Mind had offered him. On a visit to Norfolk and Waveney Mind at Anmer Social Club’s Community Hall, situated on the King’s Sandringham estate on Thursday morning, William heard how the charity is delivering vital mental health support to local people, including those who work on the royal estate. “Mind have become a sort of family,” a 71-year-old man told William. “It’s good to be able to talk… and deal with real people, caring people, people you trust.” The community groups provided by the mental health charity are located within touching distance from their homes and provide a safe, non-judgemental space where attendees can build supportive relationships and help navigate difficult periods of their life. Last year, Norfolk and Waveney Mind, a local branch …

The surprising ways your lights may be hurting your health — and wasting money

The surprising ways your lights may be hurting your health — and wasting money

Published by Daniella Wilson

Get the Well Enough newsletter with Harry Bullmore for tips on living a healthier, happier and longer life Get the Well Enough email with Harry Bullmore Get the Well Enough email with Harry Bullmore Lighting accounts for almost 8% of the world’s energy usage. It makes up around 10-20% of domestic energy bills, with an even higher proportion in commercial premises like offices. But it still has huge potential for improvement. Technological changes and management of consumer behaviour can greatly reduce energy consumption without sacrificing comfort – and even improve health and wellbeing along the way. LED lightbulbs marked a huge leap forward in energy efficiency. They can reduce energy consumption by 50-80% in comparison with older technology, but their impact goes beyond energy savings, as by emitting less heat than older bulbs, they also reduce the need to cool interiors. Type of light also plays a role in our bodies, affecting sleep, attention and metabolism. But its impact mainly depends on intensity. Bluer light – typically emitted by screens and “cold” LED bulbs – …

Congo’s Ebola Outbreak Spreads to New Health Zone

Congo’s Ebola Outbreak Spreads to New Health Zone

Published by Sam Flores

DAKAR, June 10 (Reuters) – Congo’s Ebola ⁠outbreak ⁠has spread to a ⁠new health zone in the northeastern province ​of Ituri, authorities said on Wednesday, as fresh infections underline sustained ‌transmission more than three ‌weeks after the epidemic was declared.  The health ministry ⁠said Tchomia, ⁠about 50 kilometres south of the provincial capital Bunia on ​the shores of Lake Albert, has become the latest affected health zone, bringing the total number of affected zones to ​26 nationwide and 18 in Ituri province, which accounts for ⁠more than ⁠94% of confirmed ⁠cases. A ​health zone in Congo’s healthcare system covers a defined area with ​a network of ⁠clinics and a referral hospital. The government’s latest situation report said 37 new confirmed cases, including 12 deaths, were reported in the previous 24 hours, all in Ituri. The outbreak ⁠has so far recorded 635 confirmed cases and 127 deaths ⁠across three eastern provinces. The epidemic, caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain of the virus, for which there is no approved vaccine or specific treatment, was declared on May 15. …

Should We Change How We Talk About Mental Health and Neurodivergence?

Should We Change How We Talk About Mental Health and Neurodivergence?

Published by Jenni Sidey

Blanco C, Wall MM, Hoertel N, Krueger RF, Liu SM, Grant BF, Olfson M (2021). Psychiatric disorders and risk for multiple adverse outcomes: a national prospective study. Mol Psychiatry. 26(3),907-916. Pine, D. S. (2025). Diagnosis, diagnostic formulation, and classification. In A. Thapar, D. S. Pine, S. Cortese, C. Cresswell, T. J. Ford, J. Leckman, & A. Stringaris (Eds.), Rutter’s Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology (7th ed.). Wiley-Blackwell. Pine, D. S., & Fox, N. A. (2015). Childhood antecedents and risk for adult mental disorders. Annual Review of Psychology, 66, 459–485. Thapar, A., Oginni, O., Dennison, C. A., & Rice, F. (2025). Youth depression: An overview of genetic findings and the challenge of heterogeneity. Journal of Affective Disorders, 391. doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2025.120049 Thapar, A. (2018). Discoveries on the genetics of ADHD in the 21st century: New findings and their implications. American Journal of Psychiatry. 175 (10), 943–950. Kendler KS, Gruenberg AM, Strauss JS (1981). An Independent Analysis of the Copenhagen Sample of the Danish Adoption Study of Schizophrenia: II. The Relationship Between Schizotypal Personality Disorder and Schizophrenia. Arch …

Shaquille O’Neal Opens Up About Being on a GLP-1

Shaquille O’Neal Opens Up About Being on a GLP-1

Published by Jenni Sidey

Shaquille O’Neal—the retired NBA megastar, entrepreneur, commentator, student and much more—is on one. At 54-years-old, he is maybe the busiest he’s ever been: O’Neal is launching Dunkman this summer, which is the world’s first-ever professional dunking league. He’s doing more work with his signature Shaq line at Reebok. And trying for a Master’s Degree in Criminology from Sacramento State (after just receiving a Master’s in Liberal Arts from Louisiana State University). What might that look like once achieved? “I may go to law school or maybe become a chief or sheriff somewhere,” O’Neal says. As a way of supporting this very full life, O’Neal’s also recently began taking the GLP-1 Zepbound. He joins the ranks of a number of high-profile athletes who are publicly promoting GLP-1s. Serena Williams and Charles Barkley (O’Neal’s co-presenter at the Finals) have publicly shared their experience using GLP-1s from the company Ro. During the Olympics, Simone Biles joined Eli Lilly as an advocate for treating Type 2 Diabetes and the reduction of GLP-1 stigma. And early this year Tom Brady …

Paul Gascoigne shares tearful health update on ITV’s GMB amid addiction recovery: ‘I don’t think about tomorrow’

Paul Gascoigne shares tearful health update on ITV’s GMB amid addiction recovery: ‘I don’t think about tomorrow’

Published by Daniella Wilson

Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Paul Gascoigne has said that he’s “the happiest” he’s been in five years following his addiction struggles, updating fans on his health in an emotional interview. The former footballer played for England at the height of his career, but has struggled off the pitch – having battled alcoholism and depression for decades. However, the 59-year-old revealed that “things are looking up” for him – and that he’s hoping to help others with his new book. “Everything’s going well for us,” he told Good Morning Britain’s Susanna Reid and Ed Balls on Wednesday (10 June). “It’s probably the happiest I’ve been in about five years, definitely, you know.” When asked why, he added: “Just in general, you know. The weather’s changed and [I] went and did a bit of fly-fishing and got deals with the book coming out. “When I played football, …

How Many Steps You Need to Walk to Feel Less Depressed, According to Experts

How Many Steps You Need to Walk to Feel Less Depressed, According to Experts

Published by Jenni Sidey

If you’ve ever been told to ‘take a walk’ during a heated situation, you’d probably, albeit begrudgingly, agree that a couple of steps can help you cool off. But what if that’s just a tiny sample of what walking can do for your mood? “A lot of people come to me with mood concerns, and many of them are surprised when I tell them to make sure they’re exercising,” says Elizabeth Kera, PhD, a board-certified clinical neuropsychologist at Hackensack University Medical Center. “I tell them that it’s just like taking an antidepressant medication.” Turns out, whether you suffer from clinically diagnosed depression or just feel kind of down, walking might actually be one of the best things you can do to turn your mood around. But how long—and how often— would you need to walk for it to actually make a difference? What the research says A 2024 review published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research found that walking for approximately 35 minutes a day—notably, four times a week—was enough to improve depressive symptoms. “The …

Platner wins Maine Democratic Senate primary, vows to oust Collins | US Midterm Elections 2026 News

Platner wins Maine Democratic Senate primary, vows to oust Collins | US Midterm Elections 2026 News

Published by Sam Flores

Graham Platner, a United States Army veteran and oyster farmer, has won the Maine Democratic primary for the Senate, setting up a high-stakes race against Republican Senator Susan Collins. Platner’s victory on Tuesday came after days of questions over damaging revelations about his past personal conduct, particularly in his relationships with women. Recommended Stories list of 1 itemend of list Platner, in his acceptance speech, acknowledged voters’ concerns, pledging to earn their “trust, faith and support” over the course of the campaign. Democrats see the race as a top opportunity to flip a Republican-held seat and a must-win as the party tries to claim control of the Senate in November. Collins, first elected in 1996 and chair of the powerful Committee on Appropriations, is the last Republican senator from New England. Maine backed Democrat Kamala Harris over Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential race. Platner, 41, has focused his campaign on the rising cost of living, housing affordability and healthcare, and secured early endorsements from progressive figures, including Senator Bernie Sanders. But Governor Janet Mills, …

I Proteinmaxxed Too Hard. Here’s What Happened to My Body

I Proteinmaxxed Too Hard. Here’s What Happened to My Body

Published by Jenni Sidey

Piling on the protein could potentially also lead to a second type of kidney stone, says Dr. Kroll. Calcium oxalate stones make up about 80% of all kidney stones. They’re not directly caused by protein, purines, or uric acid, but rather by low levels of calcium. “Sometimes, when someone switches to a predominantly protein-based diet, they may develop a deficiency of calcium as a result,” Dr. Kroll says. “They may be isolating the protein from dairy products, as in the case of whey, which doesn’t contain a lot of calcium. So those people are at increased risk for calcium stones.” “That’s something that can be really, really painful, but it’s not just going to be from protein alone,” says King. If you’re consuming a lot of protein, just make sure you’re not neglecting calcium-rich foods like dairy products and leafy greens. It’s also worth finding out if kidney stones run in your family, King says. “Family history roughly doubles the risk.” Reeking havoc Unlike gout or kidney stones, which can be offset to a degree …