A national survey has found that the number of teenagers drinking alcohol and using drugs in England is falling. Government ministers have commented that these results were “encouraging”, but vowed to cut the numbers further. The survey of 8,200 11 to 15 year olds found: 21% had an alcoholic drink in the last week (down read more »

National figures have shown that over a 13 month period, 206 children under the age of 12 were treated for an eating disorder in Britain and Ireland. One girl of just six years old showed signs of an eating disorder, including food avoidance, fear of weight gain and excessive exercising, however was not officially diagnosed read more »

As of the 8th of March, NESTA (National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts ) launched a new programme called ‘Innovation Challenges’, which will support a number of large campaigns in response to major social issues. The first Challenge project will focus on health innovation, and in particular mental health. NESTA are looking to read more »

An increase in awareness of prostate cancer has led to a “dramatic” increase in the number of screenings for it, according to an article on Net Doctor today. However, more counselling resources are needed to help men who test positive to come to terms with their diagnosis says Pete Gill, a nurse funded by Prostate read more »

Depression Awareness Week runs from 16th to 22nd April and is a great opportunity to raise the profile of depression and raise money to improve services. Launched by Depression Alliance over 12 years ago, the successful initiative has grown from strength to strength, with support from health professionals, politicians and the general public. Depression Alliance read more »

According to an article on Net Doctor, men from single-parent homes are more likely to have been sexually abused as children than those living in two parent families. A US report claims that almost 30% of men raised by a single parent told the researchers they had been sexually abused, compared with 16% living with read more »