Laughter is a powerful tool, on one hand, it can be used to lift the spirits of others, to express our emotions and even increase our popularity, and on the other, it can be used to degrade and humiliate. The simple act of laughing has the ability to convey meaning on an equal level to read more »

Scientists at Imperial College London have been exploring the possible benefits of taking the Psilocybin Mushroom – better known to party-goers as magic mushrooms or ‘shrooms’. The hallucinogenic effects of magic mushrooms have been known for thousands of years and even feature in cave paintings dating back to the Mesolithic era. Now research has shown read more »

Groundbreaking research has finally exposed the physical effects of internet addiction on the brain,  similar to those of drugs and alcohol. It is thought that approximately 5 to 10% of people who use the internet are clinically addicted. To be addicted, the individual must find it impossible to control their use. Henrietta Bowden Jones, consultant read more »

The UK has enjoyed almost a decade of falling divorce rates but, according to the Office of National Statistics (ONS), the numbers are once more on the rise.   In only one year, the number of couples filing for divorce has increased by almost 5%- a large enough percentage to warrant an explanation. What is read more »

Whereas the effect of the financial crisis on the UK economy remains obvious, the true extent of its effect on us – socially, individually and culturally – is only just beginning to unravel. One impact the recession has on our lives is clear: increased stress. Whether you’re worrying about an unsecure job, a lack of read more »

Workers in Britain’s capital feel the pressure mount as the recession continues. According to Dr Andrew Parker, consultant psychiatrist at Capio Nightingale Hospital in Marleybone, London, there has been a noticeable increase in city workers seeking help for work-related stress over the last few years. With the looming threat of financial crisis, redundancy and sector read more »

The NHS has given £50,000 to charity Ark to help people with Asperger’s find love. As the online-dating stigma fades and singles-clubs and speed-dating becomes all the rage, the modern dating scene is changing – and upping its expectations too. The world of dating has become a formidable place for the many singles looking for read more »

This week the Welsh Government is set to release a White Paper outlining plans to introduce a presumed consent organ donation law by 2015. The new legislation will mean that anyone in Wales who does not wish to donate their organs upon death, will need to sign an ‘opt-out’ register. The BBC Wales Politics show read more »

A Sheffield hospital hopes to help 10 morbidly obese teenagers lose weight by fitting them with gastric balloons. The procedure, which involves inflating the stomach to simulate a feeling of fullness, has proven effective on adults. There have been few studies examining the effects of the gastric balloon on young people, however, and the procedure read more »

According to new research by the Independent Schools Health Education Unit, 4% of 12 to 13 year olds claimed they drank over 28 units every week. The results were taken from 83,724 young people across 1,100 UK primary and secondary schools. Each pupil was asked more than 100 health-related questions about their school, home and read more »