Mental Health
How climate anxiety is devastating a generation
‘I‘ve felt utterly helpless‘ — A new study has exposed the terrifying extent to which the climate crisis is linked to widespread psychological distress among young people globally. Experts are calling on governments to take these concerns seriously, or risk inflicting further damage.
Written by: Ben Smoke
BBLs and penis enlargements: the rise of men’s surgery
Under the knife — Plastic surgery providers are targeting some of men’s biggest insecurities with hazardous procedures, often deploying social media advertising that lacks any meaningful oversight or regulation.
Written by: Chloé Meley
Calorie-labelled menus will inflict untold harm on men, too
Scale of the problem — New legislation from the Government mandating that restaurants add calories to menus will have devastating consequences for not just women but men also, who face an added layer of stigma when it comes to disordered eating.
Written by: Dominic McGovern
Why more young people are ditching their smartphones
Return of the brick — As Covid-19 causes people to become increasingly glued to their devices, growing numbers of Gen Zers are shunning their phones and embracing a way of life that they say is improving their mental health. But how easy is it really to kick the habit?
Written by: Serena Smith
Is lockdown fuelling a student gambling crisis?
Rolling the dice — Looking for ways to fill the hours, the pandemic has caused a perfect storm for student gamblers. But some fear their habit to alleviate boredom could be spiralling into addiction.
Written by: Serena Smith
TikTokers are using secret hashtags to discuss self-harm
Under the radar — The hashtag #selfharm is censored on TikTok, but that hasn’t stopped users from speaking out about their experiences. While the platform needs to do more to keep young people safe from triggering content, experts stress that the problem runs much deeper than social media.
Written by: Serena Smith
Can psychedelics break down racial barriers?
New perspectives — Our era has been described as a ‘Psychedelic Renaissance’, with growing interest in the potential mental health benefits of hallucinogenics. But could these mind-altering experiences help people of colour navigate racism?
Written by: Adam Quarshie
The UK's puberty blocker ruling endangers trans people
#TransKidsExist — In the wake of a High Court ruling making it harder to prescribe puberty blockers to under-16s, writer Nicola Dinan asks why anyone would celebrate a now even starker absence of healthcare for trans kids.
Written by: Nicola Dinan
Can being a musician make you sick?
Facing the music — We speak to the authors of a new book which interrogates why musicians are three times more likely to have anxiety or depression.
Written by: Jeremy Allen
What now for... skaters?
Talking mental health — Huck is exploring the impact that the coronavirus pandemic is having on different communities – and on our mental health. In this final instalment, Shelley Jones explores how the lockdown has affected the skateboarding community.
Written by: Shelley Jones