If you love having plants at home, then there is a good news for you as a new study suggests that plants at home can keep you mentally healthy. 
 
The findings, published in the journal Urban Forestry and Urban Greening, indicated that having plants at home had a positive influence on the psychological well-being of the dwelling`s inhabitants during Covid-19 lockdown. 
 
For the study, the researchers, including Katia Perini from the University of Genoa in Italy, evaluated the role played by the plants at home during the first Covid-19 lockdown and the study involved 4,200 respondents. 
 
The situation between the months of March and June deprived the public of the chance to enjoy open spaces and nature, and forced them to spend extended periods of time indoors. 
 
The team found 74 percent of the respondents agreed that having plants at home had a positive influence on emotional well-being during lockdown, the researchers said. 
 
In fact, more than half of them (55.8 percent) stated that they would have preferred to have more plants in their house during that difficult period. The frequency with which study participants experienced negative emotions was higher in those who stated they had no indoor plants. 
 
Those living in small or poorly lit dwellings and those who did not visit green spaces frequently before lockdown also experienced more negative emotions, it added. 
 
Moreover, just over half of respondents (52 per cent) reported spending more time on plant care at home during lockdown and almost two thirds (62.5 per cent) expressed a desire to do so once normality was restored. 
 
As a result, 40 percent of the participants indicated that they were motivated to have more plants at home in future, the researchers said. 
 
 
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If you love having plants at home, then there is a good news for you as a new study suggests that plants at home can keep you mentally healthy. The findings, published in the journal Urban Forestry and Urban Greening, indicated that having plants at home had a positive influence on the psychological well-being of the dwelling`s inhabitants during Covid-19 lockdown.

If you love having plants at home, then there is a good news for you as a new study suggests that plants at home can keep you mentally healthy. The findings, published in the journal Urban Forestry and Urban Greening, indicated that having plants at home had a positive influence on the psychological well-being of the dwelling`s inhabitants during Covid-19 lockdown. For the study, the researchers, including Katia Perini from the University of Genoa in Italy, evaluated the role played by the plants at home during the first Covid-19 lockdown and the study involved 4,200 respondents. The situation between the months of March and June deprived the public of the chance to enjoy open spaces and nature, and forced them to spend extended periods of time indoors. The team found 74 percent of the respondents agreed that having plants at home had a positive influence on emotional well-being during lockdown, the researchers said. In fact, more than half of them (55.8 percent) stated that they would have preferred to have more plants in their house during that difficult period. The frequency with which study participants experienced negative emotions was higher in those who stated they had no indoor plants. Those living in small or poorly lit dwellings and those who did not visit green spaces frequently before lockdown also experienced more negative emotions, it added. Moreover, just over half of respondents (52 per cent) reported spending more time on plant care at home during lockdown and almost two thirds (62.5 per cent) expressed a desire to do so once normality was restored. As a result, 40 percent of the participants indicated that they were motivated to have more plants at home in future, the researchers said.

Plants at home may improve mental well-being

Actress Jessica Alba revealed that she suffered from imposter syndrome when she moved on from her acting career and embarked on an entrepreneurial journey. 
 
While talking about building her business on #StraightTalk, Alba said,&nbsp;"I`ve always had this imposter syndrome thing&nbsp;and I always felt like I didn`t deserve to be here," 
 
Impostor syndrome refers to the belief that one is not as competent as others perceive one to be. "I always felt like it was God, and luck and magic that had got me here. But I think being with my (producer Cash Warren]) over these years, he let me know, `Hey, it`s all the hard work you`ve always put in. You deserve to be here as much as anyone else.` And over time I guess I`ve sort of let that sink in and marinate," she added. 
 
Alba founded The Honest Company in 2012. The lifestyle brand became&nbsp;a leader in the natural baby category and clean products. She expanded the brand with the launch of Honest Beauty in 2015. The actress credits her husband Cash Warren for helping her gain self-confidence. 
 
"My husband has the mentality of, `I deserve to be here` -- even though he is also a person of colour. He grew up in, as a minority, in a predominantly white Hollywood kind of environment; his dad being one of the few Black actors of his time," Alba said, referring to her father-in-law, Michael Warren. 
 
She continued: "He (her husband) always felt like, `if I don`t treat myself with that respect, how do I expect anyone else to treat me with that respect?` And so that`s just the way he carries himself -- not entitled in a way that you normally sort of hear it -- but like, `I deserve to be here`." 
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Actress Jessica Alba revealed that she suffered from imposter syndrome when she moved on from her acting career and embarked on an entrepreneurial journey. While talking about building her business on #StraightTalk, Alba said, "I`ve always had this imposter syndrome thing and I always felt like I didn`t deserve to be here," Impostor syndrome refers to the belief that one is not as competent as others perceive one to be.

Actress Jessica Alba revealed that she suffered from imposter syndrome when she moved on from her acting career and embarked on an entrepreneurial journey. While talking about building her business on #StraightTalk, Alba said, "I`ve always had this imposter syndrome thing and I always felt like I didn`t deserve to be here," Impostor syndrome refers to the belief that one is not as competent as others perceive one to be. "I always felt like it was God, and luck and magic that had got me here. But I think being with my (producer Cash Warren]) over these years, he let me know, `Hey, it`s all the hard work you`ve always put in. You deserve to be here as much as anyone else.` And over time I guess I`ve sort of let that sink in and marinate," she added. Alba founded The Honest Company in 2012. The lifestyle brand became a leader in the natural baby category and clean products. She expanded the brand with the launch of Honest Beauty in 2015. The actress credits her husband Cash Warren for helping her gain self-confidence. "My husband has the mentality of, `I deserve to be here` -- even though he is also a person of colour. He grew up in, as a minority, in a predominantly white Hollywood kind of environment; his dad being one of the few Black actors of his time," Alba said, referring to her father-in-law, Michael Warren. She continued: "He (her husband) always felt like, `if I don`t treat myself with that respect, how do I expect anyone else to treat me with that respect?` And so that`s just the way he carries himself -- not entitled in a way that you normally sort of hear it -- but like, `I deserve to be here`."

Jessica Alba reveals she always had imposter syndrome

Ricochet, a service dog soothes anxiety through surfing. She is a certified therapy dog, who offers therapy to people with disabilities and mental health issues.

Surfing Dog Ricochet offers therapy to people coping with loss

Almost immediately, Dr. Hisam Goueli could tell that the patient who came to his psychiatric hospital on Long Island this summer was unusual.

The patient, a 42-year-old physical therapist and mother of four young children, had never had psychiatric symptoms or any family history of mental illness. Yet there she was, sitting at a table in a beige-walled room at South Oaks Hospital in Amityville, New York, sobbing and saying that she kept seeing her children, ages 2 to 10, being gruesomely murdered and that she herself had crafted plans to kill them.

“It was like she was experiencing a movie, like ‘Kill Bill,’” Goueli, a psychiatrist, said.

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The patient described one of her children being run over by a truck and another decapitated. “It’s a horrifying thing that here’s this well-accomplished woman and she’s like ‘I love my kids, and I don’t know why I feel this way that I want to decapitate them,’” he said.

The only notable thing about her medical history was that the woman, who declined to be interviewed but allowed Goueli to describe her case, had become infected with the coronavirus in the spring. She had experienced only mild physical symptoms from the virus, but, months later, she heard a voice that first told her to kill herself and then told her to kill her children.

At South Oaks, which has an inpatient psychiatric treatment program for <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">COVID-19 </a>patients, Goueli was unsure whether the coronavirus was connected to the woman’s psychological symptoms. “Maybe this is COVID-related, maybe it’s not,” he recalled thinking.

“But then,” he said, “we saw a second case, a third case and a fourth case, and we’re like, ‘There’s something happening.’”

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/super-gonorrhea-on-the-rise-due-to-covid-19-who-352835" hreflang="en">‘Super Gonorrhea’ on the rise due to Covid-19: WHO</a>

Indeed, doctors are reporting similar cases across the country and around the world. A small number of COVID patients who had never experienced mental health problems are developing severe psychotic symptoms weeks after contracting the coronavirus.

In interviews and scientific articles, doctors described:

A 36-year-old nursing home employee in North Carolina who became so paranoid that she believed her three children would be kidnapped and, to save them, tried to pass them through a fast-food restaurant’s drive-thru window.

A 30-year-old construction worker in New York City who became so delusional that he imagined his cousin was going to murder him, and, to protect himself, he tried to strangle his cousin in bed.

A 55-year-old woman in Britain had hallucinations of monkeys and a lion and became convinced a family member had been replaced by an impostor.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/british-tourists-flee-swiss-resort-overnight-to-escape-quarantine-amid-fears-of-new-covid-strain-352845" hreflang="en">British tourists flee Swiss resort overnight to escape quarantine amid fears of new covid strain</a>

Beyond individual reports, a British study of neurological or psychiatric complications in 153 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 found that 10 people had “new-onset psychosis.” Another study identified 10 such patients in one hospital in Spain. And in COVID-related social media groups, medical professionals discuss seeing patients with similar symptoms in the Midwest, Great Plains and elsewhere.

“My guess is any place that is seeing COVID is probably seeing this,” said Dr. Colin Smith at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, who helped treat the North Carolina woman. He and other doctors said their patients were too fragile to be asked whether they wanted to be interviewed for this article, but some, including the North Carolina woman, agreed to have their cases described in scientific papers.

Medical experts say they expect that such extreme psychiatric dysfunction will affect only a small proportion of patients. But the cases are considered examples of another way the COVID-19 disease process can affect mental health and brain function.

Although the coronavirus was initially thought primarily to cause respiratory distress, there is now ample evidence of many other symptoms, including neurological, cognitive and psychological effects, that could emerge even in patients who didn’t develop serious lung, heart or circulatory problems. Such symptoms can be just as debilitating to a person’s ability to function and work, and it’s often unclear how long they will last or how to treat them.

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Experts increasingly believe brain-related effects may be linked to the body’s immune system response to the coronavirus and possibly to vascular problems or surges of inflammation caused by the disease process.

“Some of the neurotoxins that are reactions to immune activation can go to the brain, through the blood-brain barrier, and can induce this damage,” said Dr. Vilma Gabbay, a co-director of the Psychiatry Research Institute at Montefiore Einstein in the Bronx, New York.

Brain scans, spinal fluid analyses and other tests didn’t find any brain infection, said Gabbay, whose hospital has treated two patients with post-COVID psychosis: a 49-year-old man who heard voices and believed he was the devil and a 34-year-old woman who began carrying a knife, disrobing in front of strangers and putting hand sanitizer in her food.

Physically, most of these patients didn’t get very sick from COVID-19, reports indicate. The patients that Goueli treated experienced no respiratory problems, but they did have subtle neurological symptoms like hand tingling, vertigo, headaches or diminished smell. Then, two weeks to several months later, he said, they “develop this profound psychosis, which is really dangerous and scary to all of the people around them.”

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Also striking is that most patients have been in their 30s, 40s and 50s. “It’s very rare for you to develop this type of psychosis in this age range,” Goueli said, since such symptoms more typically accompany schizophrenia in young people or dementia in older patients. And some patients — like the physical therapist who took herself to the hospital — understood something was wrong, while usually “people with psychosis don’t have an insight that they’ve lost touch with reality.”

Some post-COVID patients who developed psychosis needed weeks of hospitalization in which doctors tried different medications before finding one that helped.

Dr. Robert Yolken, a neurovirology expert at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, said that although people might recover physically from COVID-19, in some cases their immune systems might be unable to shut down or might remain engaged because of “delayed clearance of a small amount of virus.”

Persistent immune activation is also a leading explanation for brain fog and memory problems bedeviling many COVID survivors, and Emily Severance, a schizophrenia expert at Johns Hopkins, said post-COVID cognitive and psychiatric effects might result from “something similar happening in the brain.”

It may hinge on which brain region the immune response affects, Yolken said, adding, “some people have neurological symptoms, some people psychiatric and many people have a combination.”

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Experts don’t know whether genetic makeup or perhaps an undetected predisposition for psychiatric illness put some people at greater risk. Dr. Brian Kincaid, medical director of psychiatric emergency department services at Duke, said the North Carolina woman once had a skin reaction to another virus, which might suggest her immune system responds zealously to viral infections.

Sporadic cases of post-infectious psychosis and mania have occurred with other viruses, including the 1918 flu and the coronaviruses severe acute respiratory syndrome and Middle East respiratory syndrome.

“We think that it’s not unique to COVID,” said Dr. Jonathan Alpert, chairman of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, who co-wrote the report on the Montefiore patients. He said studying these cases might help to increase doctors’ understanding of psychosis.

The symptoms have ranged widely, some surprisingly severe for a first psychotic episode, experts said. Goueli said a 46-year-old pharmacy technician, whose family brought her in after she became fearful that evil spirits had invaded her home, “cried literally for four days” in the hospital.

He said the 30-year-old construction worker, brought to the hospital by the police, became “extremely violent,” dismantling a hospital radiator and using its parts and his shoes to try to break out of a window. He also swung a chair at hospital staff.

How long the psychosis lasted and patients’ response to treatment has varied. The woman in Britain — whose symptoms included paranoia about the color red and terror that nurses were devils who would harm her and a family member — took about 40 days to recover, according to a case report.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-reports-6-cases-of-new-covid-19-strain-as-uk-returnees-test-positive-353157">WATCH|</a>

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The 49-year-old man treated at Montefiore was discharged after several weeks’ hospitalization, but “he was still struggling two months out” and required readmission, Gabbay said.

The North Carolina woman, who was convinced that cellphones were tracking her and that her partner would steal her pandemic stimulus money, didn’t improve with the first medication, said Dr. Jonathan Komisar at Duke, who said doctors initially thought her symptoms reflected bipolar disorder. “When we began to realize that maybe this isn’t going to resolve immediately,” he said, she was given an antipsychotic, risperidone and discharged in a week.

The physical therapist who planned to murder her children had more difficulty. “Every day, she was getting worse,” Goueli said. “We tried probably eight different medicines,” including antidepressants, antipsychotics and lithium. “She was so ill that we were considering electroconvulsive therapy for her because nothing was working.”

About two weeks into her hospitalization, she couldn’t remember what her 2-year-old looked like. Calls with family were heartbreaking because “‘You could hear one in the background saying ‘When is Mom coming home?’” Goueli said. “That brought her a lot of shame because she was like, ‘I can’t be around my kids and here they are loving me.’”

Ultimately, risperidone proved effective and after four weeks, she returned home to her family, “95% perfect,” he said.

“We don’t know what the natural course of this is,” Goueli said. “Does this eventually go away? Do people get better? How long does that normally take? And are you then more prone to have other psychiatric issues as a result? There are just so many unanswered questions.”

Almost immediately, Dr. Hisam Goueli could tell that the patient who came to his psychiatric hospital on Long Island this summer was unusual. The patient, a 42-year-old physical therapist and mother of four young children, had never had psychiatric symptoms or any family history of mental illness.

Almost immediately, Dr. Hisam Goueli could tell that the patient who came to his psychiatric hospital on Long Island this summer was unusual. The patient, a 42-year-old physical therapist and mother of four young children, had never had psychiatric symptoms or any family history of mental illness. Yet there she was, sitting at a table in a beige-walled room at South Oaks Hospital in Amityville, New York, sobbing and saying that she kept seeing her children, ages 2 to 10, being gruesomely murdered and that she herself had crafted plans to kill them. “It was like she was experiencing a movie, like ‘Kill Bill,’” Goueli, a psychiatrist, said. Also read| This gene can protect you from mutant coronavirus strains The patient described one of her children being run over by a truck and another decapitated. “It’s a horrifying thing that here’s this well-accomplished woman and she’s like ‘I love my kids, and I don’t know why I feel this way that I want to decapitate them,’” he said. The only notable thing about her medical history was that the woman, who declined to be interviewed but allowed Goueli to describe her case, had become infected with the coronavirus in the spring. She had experienced only mild physical symptoms from the virus, but, months later, she heard a voice that first told her to kill herself and then told her to kill her children. At South Oaks, which has an inpatient psychiatric treatment program for COVID-19 patients, Goueli was unsure whether the coronavirus was connected to the woman’s psychological symptoms. “Maybe this is COVID-related, maybe it’s not,” he recalled thinking. “But then,” he said, “we saw a second case, a third case and a fourth case, and we’re like, ‘There’s something happening.’” Also read| ‘Super Gonorrhea’ on the rise due to Covid-19: WHO Indeed, doctors are reporting similar cases across the country and around the world. A small number of COVID patients who had never experienced mental health problems are developing severe psychotic symptoms weeks after contracting the coronavirus. In interviews and scientific articles, doctors described: A 36-year-old nursing home employee in North Carolina who became so paranoid that she believed her three children would be kidnapped and, to save them, tried to pass them through a fast-food restaurant’s drive-thru window. A 30-year-old construction worker in New York City who became so delusional that he imagined his cousin was going to murder him, and, to protect himself, he tried to strangle his cousin in bed. A 55-year-old woman in Britain had hallucinations of monkeys and a lion and became convinced a family member had been replaced by an impostor. Also read| British tourists flee Swiss resort overnight to escape quarantine amid fears of new covid strain Beyond individual reports, a British study of neurological or psychiatric complications in 153 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 found that 10 people had “new-onset psychosis.” Another study identified 10 such patients in one hospital in Spain. And in COVID-related social media groups, medical professionals discuss seeing patients with similar symptoms in the Midwest, Great Plains and elsewhere. “My guess is any place that is seeing COVID is probably seeing this,” said Dr. Colin Smith at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, who helped treat the North Carolina woman. He and other doctors said their patients were too fragile to be asked whether they wanted to be interviewed for this article, but some, including the North Carolina woman, agreed to have their cases described in scientific papers. Medical experts say they expect that such extreme psychiatric dysfunction will affect only a small proportion of patients. But the cases are considered examples of another way the COVID-19 disease process can affect mental health and brain function. Although the coronavirus was initially thought primarily to cause respiratory distress, there is now ample evidence of many other symptoms, including neurological, cognitive and psychological effects, that could emerge even in patients who didn’t develop serious lung, heart or circulatory problems. Such symptoms can be just as debilitating to a person’s ability to function and work, and it’s often unclear how long they will last or how to treat them. Also read| Italy turns to flower power to help spread vaccine message Experts increasingly believe brain-related effects may be linked to the body’s immune system response to the coronavirus and possibly to vascular problems or surges of inflammation caused by the disease process. “Some of the neurotoxins that are reactions to immune activation can go to the brain, through the blood-brain barrier, and can induce this damage,” said Dr. Vilma Gabbay, a co-director of the Psychiatry Research Institute at Montefiore Einstein in the Bronx, New York. Brain scans, spinal fluid analyses and other tests didn’t find any brain infection, said Gabbay, whose hospital has treated two patients with post-COVID psychosis: a 49-year-old man who heard voices and believed he was the devil and a 34-year-old woman who began carrying a knife, disrobing in front of strangers and putting hand sanitizer in her food. Physically, most of these patients didn’t get very sick from COVID-19, reports indicate. The patients that Goueli treated experienced no respiratory problems, but they did have subtle neurological symptoms like hand tingling, vertigo, headaches or diminished smell. Then, two weeks to several months later, he said, they “develop this profound psychosis, which is really dangerous and scary to all of the people around them.” Also read| New 'long COVID' symptoms may include stench of fish and burning Also striking is that most patients have been in their 30s, 40s and 50s. “It’s very rare for you to develop this type of psychosis in this age range,” Goueli said, since such symptoms more typically accompany schizophrenia in young people or dementia in older patients. And some patients — like the physical therapist who took herself to the hospital — understood something was wrong, while usually “people with psychosis don’t have an insight that they’ve lost touch with reality.” Some post-COVID patients who developed psychosis needed weeks of hospitalization in which doctors tried different medications before finding one that helped. Dr. Robert Yolken, a neurovirology expert at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, said that although people might recover physically from COVID-19, in some cases their immune systems might be unable to shut down or might remain engaged because of “delayed clearance of a small amount of virus.” Persistent immune activation is also a leading explanation for brain fog and memory problems bedeviling many COVID survivors, and Emily Severance, a schizophrenia expert at Johns Hopkins, said post-COVID cognitive and psychiatric effects might result from “something similar happening in the brain.” It may hinge on which brain region the immune response affects, Yolken said, adding, “some people have neurological symptoms, some people psychiatric and many people have a combination.” Also read| Coronavirus mutation tracker: New strain leading to chaos and confusion across the globe Experts don’t know whether genetic makeup or perhaps an undetected predisposition for psychiatric illness put some people at greater risk. Dr. Brian Kincaid, medical director of psychiatric emergency department services at Duke, said the North Carolina woman once had a skin reaction to another virus, which might suggest her immune system responds zealously to viral infections. Sporadic cases of post-infectious psychosis and mania have occurred with other viruses, including the 1918 flu and the coronaviruses severe acute respiratory syndrome and Middle East respiratory syndrome. “We think that it’s not unique to COVID,” said Dr. Jonathan Alpert, chairman of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, who co-wrote the report on the Montefiore patients. He said studying these cases might help to increase doctors’ understanding of psychosis. The symptoms have ranged widely, some surprisingly severe for a first psychotic episode, experts said. Goueli said a 46-year-old pharmacy technician, whose family brought her in after she became fearful that evil spirits had invaded her home, “cried literally for four days” in the hospital. He said the 30-year-old construction worker, brought to the hospital by the police, became “extremely violent,” dismantling a hospital radiator and using its parts and his shoes to try to break out of a window. He also swung a chair at hospital staff. How long the psychosis lasted and patients’ response to treatment has varied. The woman in Britain — whose symptoms included paranoia about the color red and terror that nurses were devils who would harm her and a family member — took about 40 days to recover, according to a case report. WATCH| × The 49-year-old man treated at Montefiore was discharged after several weeks’ hospitalization, but “he was still struggling two months out” and required readmission, Gabbay said. The North Carolina woman, who was convinced that cellphones were tracking her and that her partner would steal her pandemic stimulus money, didn’t improve with the first medication, said Dr. Jonathan Komisar at Duke, who said doctors initially thought her symptoms reflected bipolar disorder. “When we began to realize that maybe this isn’t going to resolve immediately,” he said, she was given an antipsychotic, risperidone and discharged in a week. The physical therapist who planned to murder her children had more difficulty. “Every day, she was getting worse,” Goueli said. “We tried probably eight different medicines,” including antidepressants, antipsychotics and lithium. “She was so ill that we were considering electroconvulsive therapy for her because nothing was working.” About two weeks into her hospitalization, she couldn’t remember what her 2-year-old looked like. Calls with family were heartbreaking because “‘You could hear one in the background saying ‘When is Mom coming home?’” Goueli said. “That brought her a lot of shame because she was like, ‘I can’t be around my kids and here they are loving me.’” Ultimately, risperidone proved effective and after four weeks, she returned home to her family, “95% perfect,” he said. “We don’t know what the natural course of this is,” Goueli said. “Does this eventually go away? Do people get better? How long does that normally take? And are you then more prone to have other psychiatric issues as a result? There are just so many unanswered questions.”

Small number of COVID patients develop severe psychotic symptoms

The pandemic not only effected economy and lives all across but also gave rise to mental health issues. As the world dealt with isolation and quarantine amid the coronavirus scare, it led to increase in mental health issues for many including actress Taraji P Henson.&nbsp; 
 
Henson was one of many who became puzzled by a life in lockdown when lockdown was announced in March earlier this year. The entertainment industry like many others were majorly hit as actors and technicians were left with no work as many productions were in a limbo.&nbsp; 
 
The lockdown made Henson contemplate whether she still wanted to live.

In a revent interview that the 50-year-old actress said she found herself struggling to get out of bed in the morning.

"For a couple of days, I couldn't get out of bed and that's not me," Henson revealed on her 'Peace of Mind with Taraji' Facebook Watch series while speaking to co-host Tracie Jade and psychologist Dr. LaShonda Green.

The actress revealed that she was "having thoughts about ending it."

She said she had purchased a gun at the time, and recalled thinking, "I could go in there right now, and just end it all." 
The actress revealed that she contemplated suicide for two nights before she decided to go and speak to someone about it.&nbsp;

"People were calling me, I wasn't responding. I just didn't care," Henson explained and added that she felt she was 'withdrawing'.

Fortunately, Henson said she spoke to a girlfriend despite feeling "ashamed" and fearing her friends would "think I'm crazy." 
"So one day I just blurted it out, to my girlfriend. She called me in the morning and I was like, 'You know I thought about killing myself last night. Oh my God, I feel so much better. I'm not gonna do it now." 
 
Henson felt that it was detrimental for her to speak out about her problems to someone in order to prevent it from happening.&nbsp; 
Green told Henson that having these unwanted feelings at times is "absolutely normal." 
 
Henson has one son, Marcell Johnson, who is 26. In October, the award-winning actress announced she had split from fiancé Kelvin Hayden. 
 
"I’m dedicated to the black man, y’all. I just turned 50 and I mean, I hadn’t said it yet, but it didn’t work out," Henson explained on 'The Breakfast Club' radio show. "I tried. I was, like, therapy. Let’s do the therapy thing, but if you’re both not on the same page with that then you feel like, you’re taking it on yourself, and that’s not a fair position for anybody to play in a relationship." 
&nbsp;

The pandemic not only effected economy and lives all across but also gave rise to mental health issues. As the world dealt with isolation and quarantine amid the coronavirus scare, it led to increase in mental health issues for many including actress Taraji P Henson.

The pandemic not only effected economy and lives all across but also gave rise to mental health issues. As the world dealt with isolation and quarantine amid the coronavirus scare, it led to increase in mental health issues for many including actress Taraji P Henson. Henson was one of many who became puzzled by a life in lockdown when lockdown was announced in March earlier this year. The entertainment industry like many others were majorly hit as actors and technicians were left with no work as many productions were in a limbo. The lockdown made Henson contemplate whether she still wanted to live. In a revent interview that the 50-year-old actress said she found herself struggling to get out of bed in the morning. "For a couple of days, I couldn't get out of bed and that's not me," Henson revealed on her 'Peace of Mind with Taraji' Facebook Watch series while speaking to co-host Tracie Jade and psychologist Dr. LaShonda Green. The actress revealed that she was "having thoughts about ending it." She said she had purchased a gun at the time, and recalled thinking, "I could go in there right now, and just end it all." The actress revealed that she contemplated suicide for two nights before she decided to go and speak to someone about it. "People were calling me, I wasn't responding. I just didn't care," Henson explained and added that she felt she was 'withdrawing'. Fortunately, Henson said she spoke to a girlfriend despite feeling "ashamed" and fearing her friends would "think I'm crazy." "So one day I just blurted it out, to my girlfriend. She called me in the morning and I was like, 'You know I thought about killing myself last night. Oh my God, I feel so much better. I'm not gonna do it now." Henson felt that it was detrimental for her to speak out about her problems to someone in order to prevent it from happening. Green told Henson that having these unwanted feelings at times is "absolutely normal." Henson has one son, Marcell Johnson, who is 26. In October, the award-winning actress announced she had split from fiancé Kelvin Hayden. "I’m dedicated to the black man, y’all. I just turned 50 and I mean, I hadn’t said it yet, but it didn’t work out," Henson explained on 'The Breakfast Club' radio show. "I tried. I was, like, therapy. Let’s do the therapy thing, but if you’re both not on the same page with that then you feel like, you’re taking it on yourself, and that’s not a fair position for anybody to play in a relationship."

Taraji P Henson reveals she contemplated suicide amid pandemic

China’s fight against the coronavirus was mostly over, but Zhang Xiaochun, a doctor in Wuhan, was sinking into depression, convinced she had failed as a daughter and mother. She agonized over her decision to keep working even after her father fell critically ill. She worried about her young daughter, whom she had frequently left alone at home.

But rather than hide those feelings, as would have been common just a few years ago in a country where mental illness has long been stigmatized, Zhang consulted therapists. When friends and colleagues checked in on her, she openly acknowledged that she was struggling.

“If we can face such a huge disaster as this outbreak, then how could we not dare to talk about something so small as some mental health problems?” said Zhang, an imaging specialist.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/another-milestone-us-administers-first-moderna-covid-19-vaccines-351449" hreflang="en">Another milestone: US administers first Moderna COVID-19 vaccines</a>

The coronavirus pandemic, which started in China, has forced the country to confront the issue of mental health, a topic long ignored because of scarce resources and widespread social stigmas. In the Mao era, mental illness was declared a bourgeois delusion and the country’s psychiatric system was dismantled. Even today, discrimination persists, and many people with mental illnesses are shunned, hidden at home or confined in institutions.

But after the coronavirus outbreak, that kind of neglect has become increasingly untenable. The uncertainty of the pandemic’s early days has combined with the grief and terror of the subsequent weeks to leave a trauma both personal and collective.

At the height of China’s outbreak, more than a third of people around the country experienced symptoms of depression, anxiety, insomnia or acute stress, according to a nationwide survey by a Shanghai university. An expert in Beijing recently warned that the effects could linger for 10 to 20 years.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/it-works-against-new-variant-too-eu-approves-pfizer-biontech-coronavirus-vaccine-351418">'It works against new variant too': EU approves Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine</a>

Because of the Chinese government’s top-down leadership, officials have mobilized quickly to provide help. Local governments have set up hotlines. Psychological associations have rolled out apps and held online seminars. Schools are screening students for insomnia and depression, and universities are establishing new counseling centers.

But the country also faces serious challenges. There is a dearth of therapists for the country’s 1.4 billion people, with fewer than nine mental health professionals for every 100,000 residents as of 2017, according to the World Health Organization.

China’s centralized political system, for all its strengths in mobilizing resources, may also create problems of its own. The government has curbed public mourning and suppressed calls for accountability over early missteps, pushing a simplified narrative of China’s triumph over the virus.

Still, the hope is that the pandemic could propel a long-term shift in the conversation around mental health in China, with advocates pointing in part to high-level government orders to improve treatment.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-uk-australia-detects-new-fast-spreading-coronavirus-strain-351398">After UK, Australia detects new fast-spreading coronavirus strain</a>

“Because of the pandemic, they are braver in coming to ask for help,” Du Mingjun, a psychologist in Wuhan, said of the influx of people she had seen seeking treatment this year. “More and more people are accepting this. That is new.”

Du was one of the first witnesses to the crisis’ mental health toll. On Jan. 23, the day that Wuhan locked down, she and her colleagues at the provincial psychologists’ association helped launch a government-backed 24-hour hotline, placing ads in newspapers and posting on WeChat to reach a city suddenly convulsed by fear.

Immediately, they were inundated. A woman called because her parents were in separate hospitals, and trying to run between the two had left her on the verge of collapse. A man was taking his temperature every 30 minutes, terrified of falling ill. A 12-year-old boy dialed on behalf of his mother, explaining that he was worried about her. At the peak, the hotline managed between 200 and 300 calls each day, Du said.

As the situation improved, the calls tapered off. By late October, there were around 10 a day. Some callers were still seeking help for trauma related to the outbreak, brought back by news reports, or old photos glimpsed on cellphones. But others have come looking for help with more mundane issues, such as academic pressure or arguments with family.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-bans-flights-from-uk-over-new-covid-19-variant-spread-351346">India bans flights from UK over new Covid-19 variant spread</a>

“I think this change is here now, and there’s no way to stop it,” Du said. “We all lived through this together, and it was continuously unfolding around us. So the collective consciousness of our community is very deep.”

Around the country, schools have expanded mental health counseling and encouraged students to take time to unwind, as the Ministry of Education has warned of “post-epidemic syndrome.” Officials have said that after months of stressful lockdowns, students might be more likely to have conflicts with parents and teachers.

Even before the pandemic, the trends in students’ mental health were worrying. A Shanghai official said in May that suicides among K-12 students were on the rise, with stress arising from academic pressure and domestic disputes.

While the rollout of services has been spotty, educators and students say the campaign has helped break stereotypes about mental health. In the northern province of Hebei, officials have produced cartoons to help students understand trauma. In the southern city of Guangzhou, students are writing letters about anxiety and practicing breathing exercises.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-coronavirus-variant-not-out-of-control-says-who-351463" hreflang="en">New coronavirus variant not out of control, says WHO</a>

Xiao Zelin, a junior at Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, said he suffered anxiety and insomnia when he returned to campus this fall. After months of being cooped up at home, he struggled adjusting to crowds of people. His appetite was poor and he couldn’t seem to relax.

Xiao had never visited a therapist before, but he spoke with a counselor provided by his university. The counselor, he said, helped him understand what he was going through and to be patient with himself. Xiao suggested his classmates sign up as well.

“In the beginning I was lost,” he said. “Now I’m feeling much better.”

Liang Lingyan, a psychologist in Shanghai, said the government there had also arranged more community services, such as home visits for seniors who live alone.

“After the epidemic, people are paying much more attention to health, especially mental health,” she said. “This will be a long-term change.”

Despite the efforts, cracks in the system remain.

There are signs that those who need help have difficulty finding it. One survey by Chinese researchers found that only 7% of patients with mental disorders had sought online help during the pandemic, despite the introduction of apps and websites by the government.

There are also too few high-quality training programs for mental health professionals, said Yu Lingna, a psychologist from China who is now based in Tokyo. Even if those were expanded, training people would take time.

“I expect we will be in a state of inadequacy for our lifetimes,” she said.

For Zhang, the imaging specialist who worked in Wuhan, the feeling that she had betrayed her family lingered, even as state media feted frontline doctors for their contributions. Her father recovered but her parents treated her coldly.

Studies suggest that medical staff may be particularly vulnerable to the pandemic’s aftershocks, with one study finding that over half of Chinese health care workers surveyed showed symptoms of depression. While many of those symptoms faded as the epidemic ebbed, others, such as a sense of guilt over losing patients, could persist, experts said.

Zhang said she found therapy unhelpful, but she eventually found other sources of comfort. She immersed herself in the writings of Wang Yangming, a Ming dynasty philosopher.

“It is easy to catch the thief that lives in the mountain, but hard to catch the thief that lives in the heart,” he wrote.

She also eventually left her job at the Wuhan hospital and is now living in Chengdu, in the country’s southwest, spending time with her husband and daughter. She is hopeful that one day her parents will understand her decisions.

Zhang has often emphasized that her experience is not unique. Many of her former colleagues are also still grappling with the scars of the outbreak, she said, and she was heartened that many of them had also turned to friends or therapists.

“Any big crisis like this is bound to leave people with some sort of pain,” she said. “There’s nothing shameful about it.”

If you or someone you know wants help for mental well being, don't hesitate to talk to a professional.&nbsp;<a data-auth="NotApplicable" href="http://aasra.info/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Aasra</a>&nbsp;(Mumbai) 022-27546669, 98204 66726,&nbsp;<a data-auth="NotApplicable" href="https://snehaindia.org/new/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sneha</a>&nbsp;(Chennai) 044-24640050,&nbsp;<a data-auth="NotApplicable" href="http://sumaitri.net/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sumaitri&nbsp;</a>(Delhi) 011-23389090,<a data-auth="NotApplicable" href="https://cooj.co.in/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">&nbsp;Cooj</a>&nbsp;(Goa) 0832- 2252525,&nbsp;<a data-auth="NotApplicable" href="https://jeevanhelplinesuicideprevention.blogspot.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jeevan</a>&nbsp;(Jamshedpur) 065-76453841, Pratheeksha (Kochi) 048-42448830,&nbsp;<a data-auth="NotApplicable" href="http://www.maithrikochi.in/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Maithri&nbsp;</a>(Kochi) 0484-2540530,&nbsp;<a data-auth="NotApplicable" href="https://roshnitrusthyd.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Roshni&nbsp;</a>(Hyderabad) 040-66202000, Lifeline 033-64643267 (Kolkata),&nbsp;<a data-auth="NotApplicable" href="https://parivarthan.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Parivarthan</a>&nbsp;(Bangalore) +91 76766 02602

 
WION is not associated with any of these organisations and does not make any recommendations

China’s fight against the coronavirus was mostly over, but Zhang Xiaochun, a doctor in Wuhan, was sinking into depression, convinced she had failed as a daughter and mother.

China’s fight against the coronavirus was mostly over, but Zhang Xiaochun, a doctor in Wuhan, was sinking into depression, convinced she had failed as a daughter and mother. She agonized over her decision to keep working even after her father fell critically ill. She worried about her young daughter, whom she had frequently left alone at home. But rather than hide those feelings, as would have been common just a few years ago in a country where mental illness has long been stigmatized, Zhang consulted therapists. When friends and colleagues checked in on her, she openly acknowledged that she was struggling. “If we can face such a huge disaster as this outbreak, then how could we not dare to talk about something so small as some mental health problems?” said Zhang, an imaging specialist. Also read| Another milestone: US administers first Moderna COVID-19 vaccines The coronavirus pandemic, which started in China, has forced the country to confront the issue of mental health, a topic long ignored because of scarce resources and widespread social stigmas. In the Mao era, mental illness was declared a bourgeois delusion and the country’s psychiatric system was dismantled. Even today, discrimination persists, and many people with mental illnesses are shunned, hidden at home or confined in institutions. But after the coronavirus outbreak, that kind of neglect has become increasingly untenable. The uncertainty of the pandemic’s early days has combined with the grief and terror of the subsequent weeks to leave a trauma both personal and collective. At the height of China’s outbreak, more than a third of people around the country experienced symptoms of depression, anxiety, insomnia or acute stress, according to a nationwide survey by a Shanghai university. An expert in Beijing recently warned that the effects could linger for 10 to 20 years. Also read| 'It works against new variant too': EU approves Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine Because of the Chinese government’s top-down leadership, officials have mobilized quickly to provide help. Local governments have set up hotlines. Psychological associations have rolled out apps and held online seminars. Schools are screening students for insomnia and depression, and universities are establishing new counseling centers. But the country also faces serious challenges. There is a dearth of therapists for the country’s 1.4 billion people, with fewer than nine mental health professionals for every 100,000 residents as of 2017, according to the World Health Organization. China’s centralized political system, for all its strengths in mobilizing resources, may also create problems of its own. The government has curbed public mourning and suppressed calls for accountability over early missteps, pushing a simplified narrative of China’s triumph over the virus. Still, the hope is that the pandemic could propel a long-term shift in the conversation around mental health in China, with advocates pointing in part to high-level government orders to improve treatment. Also read| After UK, Australia detects new fast-spreading coronavirus strain “Because of the pandemic, they are braver in coming to ask for help,” Du Mingjun, a psychologist in Wuhan, said of the influx of people she had seen seeking treatment this year. “More and more people are accepting this. That is new.” Du was one of the first witnesses to the crisis’ mental health toll. On Jan. 23, the day that Wuhan locked down, she and her colleagues at the provincial psychologists’ association helped launch a government-backed 24-hour hotline, placing ads in newspapers and posting on WeChat to reach a city suddenly convulsed by fear. Immediately, they were inundated. A woman called because her parents were in separate hospitals, and trying to run between the two had left her on the verge of collapse. A man was taking his temperature every 30 minutes, terrified of falling ill. A 12-year-old boy dialed on behalf of his mother, explaining that he was worried about her. At the peak, the hotline managed between 200 and 300 calls each day, Du said. As the situation improved, the calls tapered off. By late October, there were around 10 a day. Some callers were still seeking help for trauma related to the outbreak, brought back by news reports, or old photos glimpsed on cellphones. But others have come looking for help with more mundane issues, such as academic pressure or arguments with family. Also read| India bans flights from UK over new Covid-19 variant spread “I think this change is here now, and there’s no way to stop it,” Du said. “We all lived through this together, and it was continuously unfolding around us. So the collective consciousness of our community is very deep.” Around the country, schools have expanded mental health counseling and encouraged students to take time to unwind, as the Ministry of Education has warned of “post-epidemic syndrome.” Officials have said that after months of stressful lockdowns, students might be more likely to have conflicts with parents and teachers. Even before the pandemic, the trends in students’ mental health were worrying. A Shanghai official said in May that suicides among K-12 students were on the rise, with stress arising from academic pressure and domestic disputes. While the rollout of services has been spotty, educators and students say the campaign has helped break stereotypes about mental health. In the northern province of Hebei, officials have produced cartoons to help students understand trauma. In the southern city of Guangzhou, students are writing letters about anxiety and practicing breathing exercises. Also read| New coronavirus variant not out of control, says WHO Xiao Zelin, a junior at Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, said he suffered anxiety and insomnia when he returned to campus this fall. After months of being cooped up at home, he struggled adjusting to crowds of people. His appetite was poor and he couldn’t seem to relax. Xiao had never visited a therapist before, but he spoke with a counselor provided by his university. The counselor, he said, helped him understand what he was going through and to be patient with himself. Xiao suggested his classmates sign up as well. “In the beginning I was lost,” he said. “Now I’m feeling much better.” Liang Lingyan, a psychologist in Shanghai, said the government there had also arranged more community services, such as home visits for seniors who live alone. “After the epidemic, people are paying much more attention to health, especially mental health,” she said. “This will be a long-term change.” Despite the efforts, cracks in the system remain. There are signs that those who need help have difficulty finding it. One survey by Chinese researchers found that only 7% of patients with mental disorders had sought online help during the pandemic, despite the introduction of apps and websites by the government. There are also too few high-quality training programs for mental health professionals, said Yu Lingna, a psychologist from China who is now based in Tokyo. Even if those were expanded, training people would take time. “I expect we will be in a state of inadequacy for our lifetimes,” she said. For Zhang, the imaging specialist who worked in Wuhan, the feeling that she had betrayed her family lingered, even as state media feted frontline doctors for their contributions. Her father recovered but her parents treated her coldly. Studies suggest that medical staff may be particularly vulnerable to the pandemic’s aftershocks, with one study finding that over half of Chinese health care workers surveyed showed symptoms of depression. While many of those symptoms faded as the epidemic ebbed, others, such as a sense of guilt over losing patients, could persist, experts said. Zhang said she found therapy unhelpful, but she eventually found other sources of comfort. She immersed herself in the writings of Wang Yangming, a Ming dynasty philosopher. “It is easy to catch the thief that lives in the mountain, but hard to catch the thief that lives in the heart,” he wrote. She also eventually left her job at the Wuhan hospital and is now living in Chengdu, in the country’s southwest, spending time with her husband and daughter. She is hopeful that one day her parents will understand her decisions. Zhang has often emphasized that her experience is not unique. Many of her former colleagues are also still grappling with the scars of the outbreak, she said, and she was heartened that many of them had also turned to friends or therapists. “Any big crisis like this is bound to leave people with some sort of pain,” she said. “There’s nothing shameful about it.” If you or someone you know wants help for mental well being, don't hesitate to talk to a professional. Aasra (Mumbai) 022-27546669, 98204 66726, Sneha (Chennai) 044-24640050, Sumaitri (Delhi) 011-23389090, Cooj (Goa) 0832- 2252525, Jeevan (Jamshedpur) 065-76453841, Pratheeksha (Kochi) 048-42448830, Maithri (Kochi) 0484-2540530, Roshni (Hyderabad) 040-66202000, Lifeline 033-64643267 (Kolkata), Parivarthan (Bangalore) +91 76766 02602 WION is not associated with any of these organisations and does not make any recommendations

China long avoided discussing mental health. The pandemic changed that.

Significantly increased use of social media in youth may lead to developing of depression within six months, suggest the findings of a new study.Young adults who increased their use of social media were significantly more likely to develop depression within six months, according to a new national study. 
 
The study was authored by Dr Brian Primack, dean of the College of Education and Health Professions and professor of public health at the University of Arkansas.Compared with participants who used less than 120 minutes per day of social media, for example, young adults who used more than 300 minutes per day were 2.8 times as likely to become depressed within six months. 
 
The study, which will be published online December 10 and is scheduled for the February 2021 issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, is the first large, national study to show a link between social media use and depression over time." Most prior work in this area has left us with the chicken-and-egg question," said Primack. 
 
"We know from other large studies that depression and social media users tend to go together, but it`s been hard to figure out which came first. This new study sheds light on these questions because high initial social media use led to increased rates of depression. However, initial depression did not lead to any change in social media use," added Primack.In 2018, Primack and his colleagues at the University of Pittsburgh sampled more than 1,000 U.S. adults between 18 to 30. 
 
They measured depression using the validated nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire and asked participants about the amount of time they used social media on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, Instagram, and SnapChat.Their analyses controlled for demographic factors like age, sex, race, education, income and employment, and they included survey weights so the results would reflect the greater U.S. population. 
 
"One reason for these findings may be that social media takes up a lot of time," said Dr. Cesar Escobar-Viera, assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh and co-author on the study."Excess time on social media may displace forming more important in-person relationships, achieving personal or professional goals, or even simply having moments of valuable reflection," added Escobar-Viera. 
 
The authors suggest that social comparison may also underlie these findings." Social media is often curated to emphasise positive portrayals," said Jaime Sidani, assistant professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh and co-author of the study."This can be especially difficult for young adults who are at critical junctures in life-related to identity development and feel that they can`t measure up to the impossible ideals they are exposed to," Sidani added.The findings are of particular importance given that depression was recently declared to be the leading global cause of disability by the World Health Organization and accounts for more disability-adjusted life-years than all other mental disorders."These findings are also particularly important to consider in the age of COVID-19," Primack said."Now that it`s harder to connect socially in person, we`re all using more technology like social media. 
 
While I think those technologies certainly can be valuable, I`d also encourage people to reflect on which tech experiences are truly useful for them and which ones leave them feeling empty," added Primack.&nbsp;

Significantly increased use of social media in youth may lead to developing of depression within six months, suggest the findings of a new study.Young adults who increased their use of social media were significantly more likely to develop depression within six months, according to a new national study.

Significantly increased use of social media in youth may lead to developing of depression within six months, suggest the findings of a new study.Young adults who increased their use of social media were significantly more likely to develop depression within six months, according to a new national study. The study was authored by Dr Brian Primack, dean of the College of Education and Health Professions and professor of public health at the University of Arkansas.Compared with participants who used less than 120 minutes per day of social media, for example, young adults who used more than 300 minutes per day were 2.8 times as likely to become depressed within six months. The study, which will be published online December 10 and is scheduled for the February 2021 issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, is the first large, national study to show a link between social media use and depression over time." Most prior work in this area has left us with the chicken-and-egg question," said Primack. "We know from other large studies that depression and social media users tend to go together, but it`s been hard to figure out which came first. This new study sheds light on these questions because high initial social media use led to increased rates of depression. However, initial depression did not lead to any change in social media use," added Primack.In 2018, Primack and his colleagues at the University of Pittsburgh sampled more than 1,000 U.S. adults between 18 to 30. They measured depression using the validated nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire and asked participants about the amount of time they used social media on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, Instagram, and SnapChat.Their analyses controlled for demographic factors like age, sex, race, education, income and employment, and they included survey weights so the results would reflect the greater U.S. population. "One reason for these findings may be that social media takes up a lot of time," said Dr. Cesar Escobar-Viera, assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh and co-author on the study."Excess time on social media may displace forming more important in-person relationships, achieving personal or professional goals, or even simply having moments of valuable reflection," added Escobar-Viera. The authors suggest that social comparison may also underlie these findings." Social media is often curated to emphasise positive portrayals," said Jaime Sidani, assistant professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh and co-author of the study."This can be especially difficult for young adults who are at critical junctures in life-related to identity development and feel that they can`t measure up to the impossible ideals they are exposed to," Sidani added.The findings are of particular importance given that depression was recently declared to be the leading global cause of disability by the World Health Organization and accounts for more disability-adjusted life-years than all other mental disorders."These findings are also particularly important to consider in the age of COVID-19," Primack said."Now that it`s harder to connect socially in person, we`re all using more technology like social media. While I think those technologies certainly can be valuable, I`d also encourage people to reflect on which tech experiences are truly useful for them and which ones leave them feeling empty," added Primack.

Excessive use of social media maybe linked to developing depression, suggests study

The group of seven volunteers in high-visibility vests, equipped with GPS trackers and radios, gathered in the parking lot of a nature preserve on the outskirts of town.

“We’ll take the red route,” Rick Roberts said, shining his flashlight over a map of the woodland, as his breath formed a cloud in the cold, late-November air.

The group fanned out on the trails in teams for the next hour, the beams of their high-power flashlights crisscrossing through the trees outside Gainsborough, a once bustling market town nestled along the winding River Trent in Lincolnshire, in the East Midlands of England. They were there as part of Night Watch, a suicide-prevention initiative started just a few weeks earlier to monitor known suicide hot spots in the area, and they were looking for people in crisis.

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This night was a good one: They found no one.

But the past few weeks have been busy for the Bearded Fishermen, the mental health charity behind the patrol project, and its co-founders, Roberts and Mick Leyland. With England just emerging from a second lockdown, they have seen a measurable uptick in calls for support and an increasing need for their crisis services as the community grapples with the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic.

“The cold and wet weather, long nights, it does affect a lot of people,” Leyland said. “And being on lockdown as well, it’s even worse.” In one recent week alone, they had responded to a number of crisis calls, including some from people threatening to take their own lives.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/traveling-be-prepared-to-quarantine-347929" hreflang="en">Traveling? Be prepared to quarantine</a>

With the coronavirus pandemic devastating Britain and two national lockdowns leaving many feeling isolated, experts say there are rising concerns about the mental health and well-being of people across the country. Research has shown a rise in reports of loneliness — a particular concern for young people — difficulties for those with preexisting mental health issues and an increase in reports of suicidal ideation.

Though there is no recorded uptick in the national suicide rate yet, the risk of suicide among middle-age men remains concerning in Britain, where for decades the group has made up the highest number of suicide deaths.

The impact of the pandemic and its knock-on effects — lockdowns, an economic downturn and social isolation — on mental health have been well documented around the world. And in Britain, which is simultaneously grappling with the highest number of COVID-19 deaths in Europe and a deep recession, health experts worry that the effect could be felt for years to come.

Some neighborhoods in Gainsborough are considered the most deprived in Lincolnshire.

David, 22, who asked that his last name be omitted to protect his privacy, lives in the town and has struggled with depression and alcohol abuse for years.

“I was brought up by my granddad, so I was brought up to think, it doesn’t matter what’s going on, you have to just be strong,” he said. For David, the lockdown has posed new challenges. With his living situation growing more unstable and job opportunities dwindling, the stresses have added up.

“The pandemic has definitely made things a little bit more difficult, because there’s not as many services to access support from face-to-face,” he said, adding that the lack of human connection had been hard. He said that the Bearded Fishermen’s support provided a lifeline, but some days were better than others.

In some ways, Leyland said, the town feels “forgotten,” often overlooked in funding, even as “ homeless, jobless and low-income residents see their mental health adversely affected by the pandemic.

“There are a lot of people here who have been out of work for a while, who desperately want work,” Leyland said. “They get to that point where they think, ‘I’m better off not being here.’”

Leyland and Roberts officially registered the Bearded Fishermen charity — its name is a nod to their shared love of fishing and to the bushy facial hair they both sport — as the pandemic was just beginning in March. When England entered a second national lockdown, they began the Night Watch patrols.

The pair’s own mental health struggles and path to solace serve as powerful testimony. Both have survived suicide attempts. After being homeless for a time, Roberts moved to Gainsborough, and the two became friends during weekly fishing outings with a group of other men.

“We both suffer from depression and anxiety, and so fishing was a release for us,” Roberts said. “We used to sit there just chatting about things that we won’t chat to anyone else about.”

They thought others, particularly men who struggle to open up, could benefit from similar support. Late last year, they began a weekly community group, where men could “hash out their problems” over cups of tea at a local community center, Leyland said.

When the pandemic made gatherings impossible, they moved their meetings online. Then they set up the call center this summer, providing phone support 24/7.

The situation in the Gainsborough area reflects the larger mental health strain across Britain. A report published by the British Journal of Psychiatry in October found an increase in reports of suicidal ideation during the pandemic. Young people, individuals from more socially disadvantaged backgrounds and those with preexisting mental health problems reported worsening conditions during the first national lockdown in the spring.

Mette Isaksen, a senior researcher and evidence manager at Samaritans, a British mental health charity that was a partner in the research, said that while the study revealed worrying trends, it did not necessarily mean suicides would rise.

“It’s just so important that people know they can get help,” she said. “Suicide is not inevitable.”

The Mental Health Foundation, which has been carrying out a nationwide study of the pandemic’s effect on mental health in Britain, found that reports of loneliness spiked during the first lockdown. The research also noted that, while some negative emotions reported early on — like anxiety, stress and panic — had dropped, feelings of loneliness and isolation had persisted.

Dr. Antonis Kousoulis, the foundation’s research director for England and Wales, said certain groups were of particular concern, including young people, who reported feelings of hopelessness at a markedly higher rate than the rest of population. Many with preexisting mental health issues have also seen their conditions worsen, he added.

“We are seeing that we are all in the same storm, but we are not all in the same boat,” Kousoulis said of the findings.

If you or someone you know wants help for mental well being, don't hesitate to talk to a professional.&nbsp;<a data-auth="NotApplicable" href="http://aasra.info/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Aasra</a>&nbsp;(Mumbai) 022-27546669, 98204 66726,&nbsp;<a data-auth="NotApplicable" href="https://snehaindia.org/new/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sneha</a>&nbsp;(Chennai) 044-24640050,&nbsp;<a data-auth="NotApplicable" href="http://sumaitri.net/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sumaitri&nbsp;</a>(Delhi) 011-23389090,<a data-auth="NotApplicable" href="https://cooj.co.in/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">&nbsp;Cooj</a>&nbsp;(Goa) 0832- 2252525,&nbsp;<a data-auth="NotApplicable" href="https://jeevanhelplinesuicideprevention.blogspot.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jeevan</a>&nbsp;(Jamshedpur) 065-76453841, Pratheeksha (Kochi) 048-42448830,&nbsp;<a data-auth="NotApplicable" href="http://www.maithrikochi.in/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Maithri&nbsp;</a>(Kochi) 0484-2540530,&nbsp;<a data-auth="NotApplicable" href="https://roshnitrusthyd.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Roshni&nbsp;</a>(Hyderabad) 040-66202000, Lifeline 033-64643267 (Kolkata),&nbsp;<a data-auth="NotApplicable" href="https://parivarthan.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Parivarthan</a>&nbsp;(Bangalore) +91 76766 02602

 
WION is not associated with any of these organisations and does not make any recommendations

The group of seven volunteers in high-visibility vests, equipped with GPS trackers and radios, gathered in the parking lot of a nature preserve on the outskirts of town.

The group of seven volunteers in high-visibility vests, equipped with GPS trackers and radios, gathered in the parking lot of a nature preserve on the outskirts of town. “We’ll take the red route,” Rick Roberts said, shining his flashlight over a map of the woodland, as his breath formed a cloud in the cold, late-November air. The group fanned out on the trails in teams for the next hour, the beams of their high-power flashlights crisscrossing through the trees outside Gainsborough, a once bustling market town nestled along the winding River Trent in Lincolnshire, in the East Midlands of England. They were there as part of Night Watch, a suicide-prevention initiative started just a few weeks earlier to monitor known suicide hot spots in the area, and they were looking for people in crisis. Also read| Explainer: The potential impact of Brexit without a trade deal This night was a good one: They found no one. But the past few weeks have been busy for the Bearded Fishermen, the mental health charity behind the patrol project, and its co-founders, Roberts and Mick Leyland. With England just emerging from a second lockdown, they have seen a measurable uptick in calls for support and an increasing need for their crisis services as the community grapples with the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic. “The cold and wet weather, long nights, it does affect a lot of people,” Leyland said. “And being on lockdown as well, it’s even worse.” In one recent week alone, they had responded to a number of crisis calls, including some from people threatening to take their own lives. Also read| Traveling? Be prepared to quarantine With the coronavirus pandemic devastating Britain and two national lockdowns leaving many feeling isolated, experts say there are rising concerns about the mental health and well-being of people across the country. Research has shown a rise in reports of loneliness — a particular concern for young people — difficulties for those with preexisting mental health issues and an increase in reports of suicidal ideation. Though there is no recorded uptick in the national suicide rate yet, the risk of suicide among middle-age men remains concerning in Britain, where for decades the group has made up the highest number of suicide deaths. The impact of the pandemic and its knock-on effects — lockdowns, an economic downturn and social isolation — on mental health have been well documented around the world. And in Britain, which is simultaneously grappling with the highest number of COVID-19 deaths in Europe and a deep recession, health experts worry that the effect could be felt for years to come. Some neighborhoods in Gainsborough are considered the most deprived in Lincolnshire. David, 22, who asked that his last name be omitted to protect his privacy, lives in the town and has struggled with depression and alcohol abuse for years. “I was brought up by my granddad, so I was brought up to think, it doesn’t matter what’s going on, you have to just be strong,” he said. For David, the lockdown has posed new challenges. With his living situation growing more unstable and job opportunities dwindling, the stresses have added up. “The pandemic has definitely made things a little bit more difficult, because there’s not as many services to access support from face-to-face,” he said, adding that the lack of human connection had been hard. He said that the Bearded Fishermen’s support provided a lifeline, but some days were better than others. In some ways, Leyland said, the town feels “forgotten,” often overlooked in funding, even as “ homeless, jobless and low-income residents see their mental health adversely affected by the pandemic. “There are a lot of people here who have been out of work for a while, who desperately want work,” Leyland said. “They get to that point where they think, ‘I’m better off not being here.’” Leyland and Roberts officially registered the Bearded Fishermen charity — its name is a nod to their shared love of fishing and to the bushy facial hair they both sport — as the pandemic was just beginning in March. When England entered a second national lockdown, they began the Night Watch patrols. The pair’s own mental health struggles and path to solace serve as powerful testimony. Both have survived suicide attempts. After being homeless for a time, Roberts moved to Gainsborough, and the two became friends during weekly fishing outings with a group of other men. “We both suffer from depression and anxiety, and so fishing was a release for us,” Roberts said. “We used to sit there just chatting about things that we won’t chat to anyone else about.” They thought others, particularly men who struggle to open up, could benefit from similar support. Late last year, they began a weekly community group, where men could “hash out their problems” over cups of tea at a local community center, Leyland said. When the pandemic made gatherings impossible, they moved their meetings online. Then they set up the call center this summer, providing phone support 24/7. The situation in the Gainsborough area reflects the larger mental health strain across Britain. A report published by the British Journal of Psychiatry in October found an increase in reports of suicidal ideation during the pandemic. Young people, individuals from more socially disadvantaged backgrounds and those with preexisting mental health problems reported worsening conditions during the first national lockdown in the spring. Mette Isaksen, a senior researcher and evidence manager at Samaritans, a British mental health charity that was a partner in the research, said that while the study revealed worrying trends, it did not necessarily mean suicides would rise. “It’s just so important that people know they can get help,” she said. “Suicide is not inevitable.” The Mental Health Foundation, which has been carrying out a nationwide study of the pandemic’s effect on mental health in Britain, found that reports of loneliness spiked during the first lockdown. The research also noted that, while some negative emotions reported early on — like anxiety, stress and panic — had dropped, feelings of loneliness and isolation had persisted. Dr. Antonis Kousoulis, the foundation’s research director for England and Wales, said certain groups were of particular concern, including young people, who reported feelings of hopelessness at a markedly higher rate than the rest of population. Many with preexisting mental health issues have also seen their conditions worsen, he added. “We are seeing that we are all in the same storm, but we are not all in the same boat,” Kousoulis said of the findings. If you or someone you know wants help for mental well being, don't hesitate to talk to a professional. Aasra (Mumbai) 022-27546669, 98204 66726, Sneha (Chennai) 044-24640050, Sumaitri (Delhi) 011-23389090, Cooj (Goa) 0832- 2252525, Jeevan (Jamshedpur) 065-76453841, Pratheeksha (Kochi) 048-42448830, Maithri (Kochi) 0484-2540530, Roshni (Hyderabad) 040-66202000, Lifeline 033-64643267 (Kolkata), Parivarthan (Bangalore) +91 76766 02602 WION is not associated with any of these organisations and does not make any recommendations

As pandemic threatens Britain’s mental health, these ‘fishermen’ fight back

Tod Phillips' 'Joker' may have won critical acclaim last year but director David Fincher isn't too happy about the portrayal of the lead protagonist.&nbsp; 
 
Fincher's remarks come and over a year following the release of the Oscar-winning film, which Warner Bros Studios billed as an "exploration of a man disregarded by society is not only a gritty character study, but also a broader cautionary tale". 
 
The film fetched its leading man Joaquin Phoenix the Best Actor award in almost all the awards earlier this year including the Oscar. Phoenix played Arthur Flex, a mentally-ill man who spirals into madness to become Joker.&nbsp; 
 
While a huge section of the society lauded the film, there were many who claimed the film had tried to humanise trigger-happy mass murderers and was exploitative of mental illness. 
 
According to Fincher, Phillips' directorial didn't have a chance to fly if it was not preceded by the success of 'The Dark Knight', which saw the late Heath Ledger play Joker in the second part of Christopher Nolan's darker, realistic 'Batman' trilogy. 
 
Ledger, who died in 2008 due to combined drug intoxication, posthumously won best supporting actor Academy Award for his performance. 
 
"Nobody would have thought they had a shot at a giant hit with Joker had 'The Dark Knight' not been as massive as it was," the director told The Daily Telegraph. 
 
Fincher, who is awaiting the release of 'Mank', also suggested that the character of 'Joker' was a mix of Martin Scorsese films leads -- Travis Bickle, a lonely taxi driver who descends into insanity from 1976's 'Taxi Driver' and Rupert Pupkin, a delusional and aspiring stand-up comic trying to launch his career from 'The King of Comedy' (1982). 
 
Incidentally, both these characters were played by Hollywood veteran Robert De Niro, who also starred in 'Joker'. 
 
"I don't think anyone would have looked at that material and thought, 'Yeah, let's take Travis Bickle and Rupert Pupkin and conflate them, then trap him in a betrayal of the mentally ill, and trot it out for a billion dollars," Fincher said. 
 
'Joker' was made on a budget of about USD 55 million and went on to rake in USD 1.07 billion. 
 
Fincher also discussed signing an exclusive deal with Netflix, which is releasing his 'Mank' next month. 
 
David Fincher is credited for films like 'Fight Club', 'The Social Network'0, and Netflix web series 'House of Cards' and 'Mindhunter'.&nbsp; 
The director also revealed that Hollywood studios don't want to invest in films that don't promise them a return of "billion dollars". 
 
"The reality of our current situation is that the five families don't want to make anything that can't make them a billion dollars. None of them want to be in the medium-priced challenging content business. And that cleaves off exactly the kind of movies I make," he said. 
"What the streamers are doing is providing a platform for the kind of cinema that actually reflects our culture and wrestles with big ideas: where things are, what people are anxious and unsure about. Those are the kinds of movies that would have been dead on arrival five years ago," he added. 
 
'Mank', based on the life of 'Citizen Kane' screenwriter Herman J Mankiewicz, will be released on the streamer on December 4. 
&nbsp;

Tod Phillips' 'Joker' may have won critical acclaim last year but director David Fincher isn't too happy about the portrayal of the lead protagonist. Fincher's remarks come and over a year following the release of the Oscar-winning film, which Warner Bros Studios billed as an "exploration of a man disregarded by society is not only a gritty character study, but also a broader cautionary tale".

Tod Phillips' 'Joker' may have won critical acclaim last year but director David Fincher isn't too happy about the portrayal of the lead protagonist. Fincher's remarks come and over a year following the release of the Oscar-winning film, which Warner Bros Studios billed as an "exploration of a man disregarded by society is not only a gritty character study, but also a broader cautionary tale". The film fetched its leading man Joaquin Phoenix the Best Actor award in almost all the awards earlier this year including the Oscar. Phoenix played Arthur Flex, a mentally-ill man who spirals into madness to become Joker. While a huge section of the society lauded the film, there were many who claimed the film had tried to humanise trigger-happy mass murderers and was exploitative of mental illness. According to Fincher, Phillips' directorial didn't have a chance to fly if it was not preceded by the success of 'The Dark Knight', which saw the late Heath Ledger play Joker in the second part of Christopher Nolan's darker, realistic 'Batman' trilogy. Ledger, who died in 2008 due to combined drug intoxication, posthumously won best supporting actor Academy Award for his performance. "Nobody would have thought they had a shot at a giant hit with Joker had 'The Dark Knight' not been as massive as it was," the director told The Daily Telegraph. Fincher, who is awaiting the release of 'Mank', also suggested that the character of 'Joker' was a mix of Martin Scorsese films leads -- Travis Bickle, a lonely taxi driver who descends into insanity from 1976's 'Taxi Driver' and Rupert Pupkin, a delusional and aspiring stand-up comic trying to launch his career from 'The King of Comedy' (1982). Incidentally, both these characters were played by Hollywood veteran Robert De Niro, who also starred in 'Joker'. "I don't think anyone would have looked at that material and thought, 'Yeah, let's take Travis Bickle and Rupert Pupkin and conflate them, then trap him in a betrayal of the mentally ill, and trot it out for a billion dollars," Fincher said. 'Joker' was made on a budget of about USD 55 million and went on to rake in USD 1.07 billion. Fincher also discussed signing an exclusive deal with Netflix, which is releasing his 'Mank' next month. David Fincher is credited for films like 'Fight Club', 'The Social Network'0, and Netflix web series 'House of Cards' and 'Mindhunter'. The director also revealed that Hollywood studios don't want to invest in films that don't promise them a return of "billion dollars". "The reality of our current situation is that the five families don't want to make anything that can't make them a billion dollars. None of them want to be in the medium-priced challenging content business. And that cleaves off exactly the kind of movies I make," he said. "What the streamers are doing is providing a platform for the kind of cinema that actually reflects our culture and wrestles with big ideas: where things are, what people are anxious and unsure about. Those are the kinds of movies that would have been dead on arrival five years ago," he added. 'Mank', based on the life of 'Citizen Kane' screenwriter Herman J Mankiewicz, will be released on the streamer on December 4.

Joaquin Phoenix starrer 'Joker' was a 'betrayal of the mentally ill', says David Fincher

Chelsea's Ben Chilwell urged people, who are suffering from mental health issues, to speak out about their problems and seek the support they need.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/chelseas-lampard-hails-defensive-improvement-but-says-no-time-to-relax-341237" hreflang="en">Chelsea's Lampard hails defensive improvement but says no time to relax</a>

Chilwell has been a recent signing for the Blues, he came from Leicester on a five-year contract. The player himself has been a victim of low confidence last season and said that he wanted to inspire others facing similar issues to open up.&nbsp;

“I didn't talk to anyone and just kept it to myself for a few months,” the England defender told BBC.&nbsp;

“Last season I struggled with confidence and the fact that I've spoken about it might help others to talk to people about their problems.

“Mental health is massive at the moment... There's someone at the club who talks to the players. I just thought... I should just go and have a chat with him and see what it's about, and it helped me a lot,” he added.

“If you are struggling and you feel like you're by yourself then talk to someone, whether that's a friend, a family member or something confidential like on a helpline, then just do it,” he said.

Chelsea's Ben Chilwell urged people, who are suffering from mental health issues, to speak out about their problems and seek the support they need. Also read: Chelsea's Lampard hails defensive improvement but says no time to relax Chilwell has been a recent signing for the Blues, he came from Leicester on a five-year contract.

Chelsea's Ben Chilwell urged people, who are suffering from mental health issues, to speak out about their problems and seek the support they need. Also read: Chelsea's Lampard hails defensive improvement but says no time to relax Chilwell has been a recent signing for the Blues, he came from Leicester on a five-year contract. The player himself has been a victim of low confidence last season and said that he wanted to inspire others facing similar issues to open up. “I didn't talk to anyone and just kept it to myself for a few months,” the England defender told BBC. “Last season I struggled with confidence and the fact that I've spoken about it might help others to talk to people about their problems. “Mental health is massive at the moment... There's someone at the club who talks to the players. I just thought... I should just go and have a chat with him and see what it's about, and it helped me a lot,” he added. “If you are struggling and you feel like you're by yourself then talk to someone, whether that's a friend, a family member or something confidential like on a helpline, then just do it,” he said.

Chelsea's Ben Chilwell urges people with mental health issues to speak up

Australian batsmen Steve Smith will not be participating in the Twenty20 Big Bash League this season as he said that continuing to play in bio-secure bubbles amid the COVID-19 pandemic will take a toll on his mental health.

The Aussie has played already played under the bio-secure bubble. First, the T20 series in England and now, he is a part of the on-going IPL in the UAE.&nbsp;

Australia's domestic league will commence in December and will go on till February. This league will be played after India's Tour of Australia.&nbsp;

"I'll be honest with you, absolutely no chance," Smith was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.&nbsp;

"It's still early days with the bubbles. We don't know how long it's going to last for.

"There's an uncertainty there. It's just going to be about having open conversations with coaches, general managers, whoever, to ensure that people are keeping their headspace in a reasonable place.

"When guys are starting to find things a bit tough mentally from just living in the bubble, being able to get out - even if it might just be a few days of being normal might be a real help. Those conversations need to be had."

Smith is not the first player to have concerns over players' mental health in bubbles, with England's limited-overs skipper Eoin Morgan also saying players may withdraw from tours if their mental health is at risk.

(Inputs from Reuters)

Australian batsmen Steve Smith will not be participating in the Twenty20 Big Bash League this season as he said that continuing to play in bio-secure bubbles amid the COVID-19 pandemic will take a toll on his mental health.

Australian batsmen Steve Smith will not be participating in the Twenty20 Big Bash League this season as he said that continuing to play in bio-secure bubbles amid the COVID-19 pandemic will take a toll on his mental health. The Aussie has played already played under the bio-secure bubble. First, the T20 series in England and now, he is a part of the on-going IPL in the UAE. Australia's domestic league will commence in December and will go on till February. This league will be played after India's Tour of Australia. "I'll be honest with you, absolutely no chance," Smith was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo. "It's still early days with the bubbles. We don't know how long it's going to last for. "There's an uncertainty there. It's just going to be about having open conversations with coaches, general managers, whoever, to ensure that people are keeping their headspace in a reasonable place. "When guys are starting to find things a bit tough mentally from just living in the bubble, being able to get out - even if it might just be a few days of being normal might be a real help. Those conversations need to be had." Smith is not the first player to have concerns over players' mental health in bubbles, with England's limited-overs skipper Eoin Morgan also saying players may withdraw from tours if their mental health is at risk. (Inputs from Reuters)

'Absolutely no chance': Steve Smith on participating in Big Bash League

Do you spend a lot of your free time on Facebook? Perhaps it’s time to rethink that idea.

A two-year long study recently tried to understand the impact of using the social media platform on the users happiness, and the results may not please you.

The study found that the more often you use Facebook, the more likely you are to feel unhappy. In 2016, Facebook data claimed that an average user spends 50 minutes on the portal every day. The&nbsp;study, carried out by Holly B Shakya from the University of California and Yale University’s Nicholas A Christakis took into account 5,208 subjects inducted across three waves - 2013, 2014, 2015.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/rival-oversight-board-launched-by-facebook-critics-to-act-as-watchdog-330214" hreflang="en">Rival oversight board launched by Facebook critics, to act as watchdog</a>

All subjects represented a sample of the US population. For two years, their activity on Facebook was monitored by researchers.

According to the study’s results, Facebook has a negative impact on one’s well-being. Additionally, the more time one spends on social media, the more likely they are to feelings of unhappiness.

The study found that, on an average social media actions like updating one’s status, clicking on a link, and ‘liking’ caused 5-8 per cent decrease in mental health of the subjects.

The authors, in conversation with The Harvard Business Review, said that they calculated “well-being” based on self reportage of mental health and physical health by subjects.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/facebook-tells-irish-court-that-probe-threatens-its-eu-operations-329331" hreflang="en">Facebook tells Irish court that probe threatens its EU operations</a>

Data about likes, clicks, average time spent, and the number of friends was also analysed directly from the accounts provided by the participants.

The researchers found that constantly liking content by others and clicking on links was linked to reduction in self-reported mental health and physical health, and satisfaction in general.

The study also added how the quantity of time one spends on Facebook plays a big role in diminishing one’s well-being.

Do you spend a lot of your free time on Facebook? Perhaps it’s time to rethink that idea. A two-year long study recently tried to understand the impact of using the social media platform on the users happiness, and the results may not please you.

Do you spend a lot of your free time on Facebook? Perhaps it’s time to rethink that idea. A two-year long study recently tried to understand the impact of using the social media platform on the users happiness, and the results may not please you. The study found that the more often you use Facebook, the more likely you are to feel unhappy. In 2016, Facebook data claimed that an average user spends 50 minutes on the portal every day. The study, carried out by Holly B Shakya from the University of California and Yale University’s Nicholas A Christakis took into account 5,208 subjects inducted across three waves - 2013, 2014, 2015. Also read: Rival oversight board launched by Facebook critics, to act as watchdog All subjects represented a sample of the US population. For two years, their activity on Facebook was monitored by researchers. According to the study’s results, Facebook has a negative impact on one’s well-being. Additionally, the more time one spends on social media, the more likely they are to feelings of unhappiness. The study found that, on an average social media actions like updating one’s status, clicking on a link, and ‘liking’ caused 5-8 per cent decrease in mental health of the subjects. The authors, in conversation with The Harvard Business Review, said that they calculated “well-being” based on self reportage of mental health and physical health by subjects. Also read: Facebook tells Irish court that probe threatens its EU operations Data about likes, clicks, average time spent, and the number of friends was also analysed directly from the accounts provided by the participants. The researchers found that constantly liking content by others and clicking on links was linked to reduction in self-reported mental health and physical health, and satisfaction in general. The study also added how the quantity of time one spends on Facebook plays a big role in diminishing one’s well-being.

Expansive study finds consistent Facebook usage linked to ill-being

In the United States, the health of the President and the presidential candidate has become a subject of debate. People are questioning if Joe Biden is mentally and psychologically unfit for office, and there are also rumours that&nbsp;Donald Trump is suffering from mini-strokes.

Joe Biden is known to be a gaffe machine. Biden's many public blunders have earned him the title 'sleepy Joe'. The 77-year-old is now the official democratic presidential nominee and the questions around his cognitive abilities have only increased.

Biden is being called 'mentally unstable'. In question is a report that was recently submitted to the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/get-off-twitter-joe-biden-asks-trump-to-do-his-real-job-325008">Also read|&nbsp;'Get off Twitter': Joe Biden asks Trump to do his real job</a>

This report was about alleged election interference by foreign powers seeking to raise doubts about the health of both the presidential candidates. The report titled, 'Russia likely to denigrate health of US candidates to influence 2020 election',&nbsp;was sent to the DHS public affairs office in July.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-is-joe-biden-psychologically-unfit-for-office-325079/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The draft mentioned that the Russian media had been publishing reports on the poor mental health of Biden. This report, like many products from DHS intelligence bureau,&nbsp;was intended to be distributed to federal and state enforcement agencies but it was delayed for further review, and then completely withheld.

Now, this information has been leaked and it&nbsp;has prompted scrutiny of alleged political influence at the DHS.

The DHS says it did not publish the report because it was "poorly written" and&nbsp;it lacked the necessary context and evidence for broader dissmenation. The Democrats are pushing for a probe.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-threatens-to-cut-federal-funding-for-lawless-cities-325022">Also read|&nbsp;Donald Trump threatens to cut federal funding for 'lawless' cities</a>

In the meantime, concerns are being raised about Donald Trump's health as well. Rumour mills have been abuzz with the news that the 74-yeard old POTUS&nbsp;is suffering mini-strokes.

It all started with a report published by Matt Drudge, an American political commentator and an influential media personality. He runs a website called the Druge Report.

During 2016, he used every bit of his influence to back Donald Trump, but now he has turned against Trump. Recently, he published a column which suggested that Trump had been suffering mini-strokes. As proof, he provided some images of Donald Trump dragging his right leg.

Dr. Sean Conley, the US President's physician has categorically denied all such claims, but&nbsp;Trump is known to be his own spokesperson. So, he put out a tweet, "It never ends! Now they are trying to say that your favorite President, me, went to Walter Reed Medical Center, having suffered a series of mini-strokes. Never happened to THIS candidate - FAKE NEWS. Perhaps they are referring to another candidate from another Party!"

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It never ends! Now they are trying to say that your favorite President, me, went to Walter Reed Medical Center, having suffered a series of mini-strokes. Never happened to THIS candidate - FAKE NEWS. Perhaps they are referring to another candidate from another Party!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1300811758051954695?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 1, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Trump put out another tweet that was directly aimed at Matt Drudge saying, "Drudge didn’t support me in 2016, and I hear he doesn’t support me now. Maybe that’s why he is doing poorly. His Fake News report on Mini-Strokes is incorrect. Possibly thinking about himself, or the other party’s “candidate”."

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Drudge didn’t support me in 2016, and I hear he doesn’t support me now. Maybe that’s why he is doing poorly. His Fake News report on Mini-Strokes is incorrect. Possibly thinking about himself, or the other party’s “candidate”. <a href="https://t.co/9FraoFqOKq">https://t.co/9FraoFqOKq</a>
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1300913237869752321?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 1, 2020</a></blockquote>
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However, Biden has&nbsp;mostly remained silent on questions on his mental health. He is now headed to Kenosha — the latest flashpoint of violent protests in America. His visit comes just two days after Trump travelled the same city. The dueling trips are set to frame the upcoming presidential debates around racial injustice.

In the United States, the health of the President and the presidential candidate has become a subject of debate. People are questioning if Joe Biden is mentally and psychologically unfit for office, and there are also rumours that Donald Trump is suffering from mini-strokes.

In the United States, the health of the President and the presidential candidate has become a subject of debate. People are questioning if Joe Biden is mentally and psychologically unfit for office, and there are also rumours that Donald Trump is suffering from mini-strokes. Joe Biden is known to be a gaffe machine. Biden's many public blunders have earned him the title 'sleepy Joe'. The 77-year-old is now the official democratic presidential nominee and the questions around his cognitive abilities have only increased. Biden is being called 'mentally unstable'. In question is a report that was recently submitted to the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Also read| 'Get off Twitter': Joe Biden asks Trump to do his real job This report was about alleged election interference by foreign powers seeking to raise doubts about the health of both the presidential candidates. The report titled, 'Russia likely to denigrate health of US candidates to influence 2020 election', was sent to the DHS public affairs office in July. The draft mentioned that the Russian media had been publishing reports on the poor mental health of Biden. This report, like many products from DHS intelligence bureau, was intended to be distributed to federal and state enforcement agencies but it was delayed for further review, and then completely withheld. Now, this information has been leaked and it has prompted scrutiny of alleged political influence at the DHS. The DHS says it did not publish the report because it was "poorly written" and it lacked the necessary context and evidence for broader dissmenation. The Democrats are pushing for a probe. Also read| Donald Trump threatens to cut federal funding for 'lawless' cities In the meantime, concerns are being raised about Donald Trump's health as well. Rumour mills have been abuzz with the news that the 74-yeard old POTUS is suffering mini-strokes. It all started with a report published by Matt Drudge, an American political commentator and an influential media personality. He runs a website called the Druge Report. During 2016, he used every bit of his influence to back Donald Trump, but now he has turned against Trump. Recently, he published a column which suggested that Trump had been suffering mini-strokes. As proof, he provided some images of Donald Trump dragging his right leg. Dr. Sean Conley, the US President's physician has categorically denied all such claims, but Trump is known to be his own spokesperson. So, he put out a tweet, "It never ends! Now they are trying to say that your favorite President, me, went to Walter Reed Medical Center, having suffered a series of mini-strokes. Never happened to THIS candidate - FAKE NEWS. Perhaps they are referring to another candidate from another Party!" It never ends! Now they are trying to say that your favorite President, me, went to Walter Reed Medical Center, having suffered a series of mini-strokes. Never happened to THIS candidate - FAKE NEWS. Perhaps they are referring to another candidate from another Party! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 1, 2020 × Trump put out another tweet that was directly aimed at Matt Drudge saying, "Drudge didn’t support me in 2016, and I hear he doesn’t support me now. Maybe that’s why he is doing poorly. His Fake News report on Mini-Strokes is incorrect. Possibly thinking about himself, or the other party’s “candidate”." Drudge didn’t support me in 2016, and I hear he doesn’t support me now. Maybe that’s why he is doing poorly. His Fake News report on Mini-Strokes is incorrect. Possibly thinking about himself, or the other party’s “candidate”. https://t.co/9FraoFqOKq — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 1, 2020 × However, Biden has mostly remained silent on questions on his mental health. He is now headed to Kenosha — the latest flashpoint of violent protests in America. His visit comes just two days after Trump travelled the same city. The dueling trips are set to frame the upcoming presidential debates around racial injustice.

From mini strokes to mentally unstable: US presidential nominees' health in jeopardy?

COVID-19 Health Summit | WION brainstorm solutions for the biggest threat the world is facing today with global experts, policy-makers and health scholars.

COVID-19 Health Summit | Mental health: The next pandemic?

The researchers of Dalhousie University have come up with a new app that can detect mental conditions like anxiety and depression based on how you use your phone.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/googles-sundar-pichai-reveals-companys-new-plans-to-detect-earthquakes-early-314415" hreflang="en">Google's Sundar Pichai reveals company's new plans to detect earthquakes early</a>

The app is called PROSIT and includes tracking features like exercise, sleep, call frequency, message histories and music tastes. An emotionally charged state can be detected with your typing speed and the force you use.&nbsp;

The App will also ask the users to record a 90-second audio clip to talk about their best and exciting part of the week. They (users) will be asked to self-report their feelings on a five-point scale.

PROSIT is currently is under the testing stage where about 300 people are using this app. Half among the users are patients.&nbsp;

Privacy concerns have hit the users a lot of times and the developers are well aware of it. To tackle this issue, the use of app requires a signed consent and the data will be stored in a secure location.&nbsp;

PROSIT does not provide a complete analysis of one's mental health but could prove useful for the psychologists track and better understand their patients’ development outside of sessions.&nbsp;

The world has witnessed a rise in mental health issues due to the coronavirus pandemic. The researchers from the University College London (UCL) in the UK found that one in four people hospitalised with COVID-19 may experience delirium during their illness.

The post-recovery effects of COVID-19 are not yet known, so long-term risks such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), chronic fatigue, depression, and anxiety are based on SARS and MERS studies, which may or may not apply to COVID-19 as well.

The researchers of Dalhousie University have come up with a new app that can detect mental conditions like anxiety and depression based on how you use your phone.

The researchers of Dalhousie University have come up with a new app that can detect mental conditions like anxiety and depression based on how you use your phone. Also read: Google's Sundar Pichai reveals company's new plans to detect earthquakes early The app is called PROSIT and includes tracking features like exercise, sleep, call frequency, message histories and music tastes. An emotionally charged state can be detected with your typing speed and the force you use. The App will also ask the users to record a 90-second audio clip to talk about their best and exciting part of the week. They (users) will be asked to self-report their feelings on a five-point scale. PROSIT is currently is under the testing stage where about 300 people are using this app. Half among the users are patients. Privacy concerns have hit the users a lot of times and the developers are well aware of it. To tackle this issue, the use of app requires a signed consent and the data will be stored in a secure location. PROSIT does not provide a complete analysis of one's mental health but could prove useful for the psychologists track and better understand their patients’ development outside of sessions. The world has witnessed a rise in mental health issues due to the coronavirus pandemic. The researchers from the University College London (UCL) in the UK found that one in four people hospitalised with COVID-19 may experience delirium during their illness. The post-recovery effects of COVID-19 are not yet known, so long-term risks such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), chronic fatigue, depression, and anxiety are based on SARS and MERS studies, which may or may not apply to COVID-19 as well.

Researchers develop PROSIT app that tracks mental health by studying phone usage

American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish enjoys a huge fan following but the singer herself was a big fan of Justin Bieber in her teenage years. The love for the 'Baby' hitmaker ran so deep that her mother had considered taking her to a therapist. 
 
In a recent episode of the 18-year-old singer`s Apple Music radio show `me &amp; dad radio,` the `Bad Guy` singer and her father, Patrick, welcomed Eilish`s mother, Maggie, as a special guest. 
 
The trio talked through a bevy of topics, including Eilish`s childhood obsession with singer Justin Bieber -- in particular her reaction to the music video for his 2012 hit `As Long As You Love Me.` 
 
Maggie remembered, "I remember this one really well and the video and Billie talking about it and being excited it was coming out and just crying and crying. Everyone knows the whole Billie-Justin Bieber thing but this song was a big part of it." 
 
The singer admitted that she would watch the video "and just sob." 
 
Maggie said with a laugh, "I just want to say, we did consider taking you to therapy because you were in so much pain over Justin Bieber. It was so intense, it caused you so much pain." 
 
During the chat, Eilish and her parents also discussed her previous struggles with mental health, which she reflected on heavily in her song "listen before I go." 
 
The Grammy winner said, "With `listen before I go,` I was worried that people would hear it and kind of be triggered by it and be offended, but all I`ve seen are fans talking about how much it`s made them feel comforted. And hearing someone going through the same thing you`re going through doesn`t make you feel worse about yourself, it makes you feel a little better." 
 
Eilish is feeling much more positive now. She remembered, "There was a period where I cried every single day of my life when I was like 13, 14 and 15. Every single day I cried. And 17, 18, I cried barely at all. I`m proud to say I barely cry anymore and it`s one thing I`ve overcome. This is a big deal. Not that it`s wrong to cry, but it`s a good thing I feel happier in my life and I don`t want to cry anymore," added Eilish. 
 
(With inputs from ANI)

American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish enjoys a huge fan following but the singer herself was a big fan of Justin Bieber in her teenage years. The love for the 'Baby' hitmaker ran so deep that her mother had considered taking her to a therapist.

American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish enjoys a huge fan following but the singer herself was a big fan of Justin Bieber in her teenage years. The love for the 'Baby' hitmaker ran so deep that her mother had considered taking her to a therapist. In a recent episode of the 18-year-old singer`s Apple Music radio show `me & dad radio,` the `Bad Guy` singer and her father, Patrick, welcomed Eilish`s mother, Maggie, as a special guest. The trio talked through a bevy of topics, including Eilish`s childhood obsession with singer Justin Bieber -- in particular her reaction to the music video for his 2012 hit `As Long As You Love Me.` Maggie remembered, "I remember this one really well and the video and Billie talking about it and being excited it was coming out and just crying and crying. Everyone knows the whole Billie-Justin Bieber thing but this song was a big part of it." The singer admitted that she would watch the video "and just sob." Maggie said with a laugh, "I just want to say, we did consider taking you to therapy because you were in so much pain over Justin Bieber. It was so intense, it caused you so much pain." During the chat, Eilish and her parents also discussed her previous struggles with mental health, which she reflected on heavily in her song "listen before I go." The Grammy winner said, "With `listen before I go,` I was worried that people would hear it and kind of be triggered by it and be offended, but all I`ve seen are fans talking about how much it`s made them feel comforted. And hearing someone going through the same thing you`re going through doesn`t make you feel worse about yourself, it makes you feel a little better." Eilish is feeling much more positive now. She remembered, "There was a period where I cried every single day of my life when I was like 13, 14 and 15. Every single day I cried. And 17, 18, I cried barely at all. I`m proud to say I barely cry anymore and it`s one thing I`ve overcome. This is a big deal. Not that it`s wrong to cry, but it`s a good thing I feel happier in my life and I don`t want to cry anymore," added Eilish. (With inputs from ANI)

Billie Eilish's mom once considered taking the singer to therapy for her obsession with Justin Bieber

The death of rising Hindi filmstar Sushant Singh Rajput has fuelled a fresh discussion about mental health in India and suicide as a leading cause of death for young Indians.

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The mental health issues are estimated to affect 15 crore Indians, less than a fifth - 3 crore - are seeking the care of one form or another.

According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), 1,34,516 people committed suicide in the year 2018.

And there are various reasons behind these suicides from academic pressure to money, relationship, abuse and violence. But what unifies most of the suicide cases is stress and depression.

And neither stress nor depression is new to India. Stress has been an integral part of Indians' life and Indians' natural ability to cope with it was once a matter of pride.&nbsp;

But in recent years, mental health has become a troubling issue for India. At least 1 in 20 Indians today has a history of depression and 15% of Indians suffer from a mental health issue.

Suicides, especially by the young Indians are a growing concern.

The NCRB data shows that 10,159 students died by suicide in 2018, an increase from 9,905 in 2017, and 9,478 in 2016.

Poverty due to failed agrarian system is also one of the major reasons behind suicides in India.

According to the NCRB, 10,349 persons involved in farming sector (consisting of 5,763 farmers or cultivators and 4,586 agricultural labourers) committed suicides during 2018, accounting for 7.7% of total suicides victims.

“Out of 5,763 farmer or cultivator suicides, 5,457 were male and 306 were female during 2018. Out of 4,586 suicides committed by agricultural labourers during 2018, 4,071 were male and 515 were female, the report stated.

According to one study, &nbsp;at least 82% of Indians are suffering from stress because of work, health or finances. India has the highest suicide rate in South East Asia. At least 338 Indians have killed themselves during the coronavirus lockdown.

Numerous individuals experiencing stress and depression have communicated that it was so hard to discuss mental health issues in India, because of an absence of comprehension about it and the taboos surrounding the topic.

There is a need to end the stigma attached to mental health. India must make mental healthcare more accessible and affordable.

When the problem is stress or depression, the answer can never be suicide and not the glorification of it.

Clinical specialists, nonetheless, state that suicide is a genuine medical issue, however, is preventable with opportune, proof-based mediations.

(With inputs from agencies)

The death of rising Hindi filmstar Sushant Singh Rajput has fuelled a fresh discussion about mental health in India and suicide as a leading cause of death for young Indians.

The death of rising Hindi filmstar Sushant Singh Rajput has fuelled a fresh discussion about mental health in India and suicide as a leading cause of death for young Indians. The mental health issues are estimated to affect 15 crore Indians, less than a fifth - 3 crore - are seeking the care of one form or another. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), 1,34,516 people committed suicide in the year 2018. And there are various reasons behind these suicides from academic pressure to money, relationship, abuse and violence. But what unifies most of the suicide cases is stress and depression. And neither stress nor depression is new to India. Stress has been an integral part of Indians' life and Indians' natural ability to cope with it was once a matter of pride. But in recent years, mental health has become a troubling issue for India. At least 1 in 20 Indians today has a history of depression and 15% of Indians suffer from a mental health issue. Suicides, especially by the young Indians are a growing concern. The NCRB data shows that 10,159 students died by suicide in 2018, an increase from 9,905 in 2017, and 9,478 in 2016. Poverty due to failed agrarian system is also one of the major reasons behind suicides in India. According to the NCRB, 10,349 persons involved in farming sector (consisting of 5,763 farmers or cultivators and 4,586 agricultural labourers) committed suicides during 2018, accounting for 7.7% of total suicides victims. “Out of 5,763 farmer or cultivator suicides, 5,457 were male and 306 were female during 2018. Out of 4,586 suicides committed by agricultural labourers during 2018, 4,071 were male and 515 were female, the report stated. According to one study, at least 82% of Indians are suffering from stress because of work, health or finances. India has the highest suicide rate in South East Asia. At least 338 Indians have killed themselves during the coronavirus lockdown. Numerous individuals experiencing stress and depression have communicated that it was so hard to discuss mental health issues in India, because of an absence of comprehension about it and the taboos surrounding the topic. There is a need to end the stigma attached to mental health. India must make mental healthcare more accessible and affordable. When the problem is stress or depression, the answer can never be suicide and not the glorification of it. Clinical specialists, nonetheless, state that suicide is a genuine medical issue, however, is preventable with opportune, proof-based mediations. (With inputs from agencies)

Suicide can't be the answer to stress and depression

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to rage on people are starved of physical touch and the absence of touching is beginning to take a toll on physical and mental health. For many people adopting dogs helped in relieving stress. Watch report.

Dog adoption on the rise in New York: Dogs are anxiety-reducing companions

Some Chinese students returning to school after lockdown are grappling with familial conflict while others are stressing over how coronavirus disruptions have affected their academic performance, teachers and school counsellors say.

The heightened post-lockdown anxiety has become a matter of central government concern as domestic media report a spate of suicides by young people. It has also led to unprecedented measures by schools and local governments to focus on student mental health - a topic that like suicide has often been taboo in Chinese society.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-privately-urged-top-hong-kong-officials-to-back-national-security-law-304961">China privately urged top Hong Kong officials to back national security law</a>

"There have been some heartbreaking incidents as schools reopened," Yan Wu, vice mayor of the southern city of Zhuhai, said at China's annual parliamentary meeting last month.

"This highlights the importance and urgency of promoting mental health development in young students," he said.

At the parliamentary meeting, at least four delegates put forward proposals for more attention to be paid to students' psychological needs.

In one Shanghai district, there have been 14 suicides by primary and secondary school students so far this year - more than annual numbers for the last three years, Li Guohua, deputy mayor of Shanghai's Pudong New Area district, told financial magazine Caixin in May.

"It's the tip of an iceberg," he was quoted as saying.

Reuters was unable to contact Li or confirm the number with local authorities.

The state-owned Health Times also reported on Sunday that nationwide, 18 students had jumped off buildings in the past three months and quoted experts calling for more focus on student mental health. The article was, however, soon deleted - a common occurrence in China when sensitive topics are raised.

Life Education

As China eased measures to stem the outbreak of the coronavirus, students began shifting from online classes back to classrooms in March.

One online survey of 1.22 million primary and secondary students conducted that month by the southern province of Guangdong's health commission and a university concluded that 10.5% were potentially grappling with mental health issues. Detailed findings were not published.

In late April, China's education ministry began telling schools to pay attention to mental health and adjust lesson plans so that students feel less academic pressure. Nearly a dozen local governments have since published measures, with the eastern province of Anhui scrapping some exams.

The city of Wuhan, the epicentre of the virus in China, Hainan province and Shanghai are among local governments providing new "life education" classes aimed at helping students deal with stress and grief.

In one such class, students were divided into two groups who raced to form English words, but one group was given a much harder set of letters - a prompt for a discussion about stressful situations.

"The purpose was to make students aware that feeling stressed is natural, and that how you deal with that stress can lead to different outcomes," said the teacher.

She was one of six Shanghai-based teachers and school counsellors interviewed for this story. All declined to be identified as they were not authorised to speak to media.

"Reopening after the lockdown was very different compared to a normal return by kids after winter vacation," said a counsellor at a Shanghai high school.

She said her workload has increased as students consult about academic pressure and study plans, and that she has online meetings with at least two families every week prompted by requests from students.

"I am hoping the virus will teach kids how to deal with changes in life. Life is full of difficulties," she said.

Some Chinese students returning to school after lockdown are grappling with familial conflict while others are stressing over how coronavirus disruptions have affected their academic performance, teachers and school counsellors say.

Some Chinese students returning to school after lockdown are grappling with familial conflict while others are stressing over how coronavirus disruptions have affected their academic performance, teachers and school counsellors say. The heightened post-lockdown anxiety has become a matter of central government concern as domestic media report a spate of suicides by young people. It has also led to unprecedented measures by schools and local governments to focus on student mental health - a topic that like suicide has often been taboo in Chinese society. Also read | China privately urged top Hong Kong officials to back national security law "There have been some heartbreaking incidents as schools reopened," Yan Wu, vice mayor of the southern city of Zhuhai, said at China's annual parliamentary meeting last month. "This highlights the importance and urgency of promoting mental health development in young students," he said. At the parliamentary meeting, at least four delegates put forward proposals for more attention to be paid to students' psychological needs. In one Shanghai district, there have been 14 suicides by primary and secondary school students so far this year - more than annual numbers for the last three years, Li Guohua, deputy mayor of Shanghai's Pudong New Area district, told financial magazine Caixin in May. "It's the tip of an iceberg," he was quoted as saying. Reuters was unable to contact Li or confirm the number with local authorities. The state-owned Health Times also reported on Sunday that nationwide, 18 students had jumped off buildings in the past three months and quoted experts calling for more focus on student mental health. The article was, however, soon deleted - a common occurrence in China when sensitive topics are raised. Life Education As China eased measures to stem the outbreak of the coronavirus, students began shifting from online classes back to classrooms in March. One online survey of 1.22 million primary and secondary students conducted that month by the southern province of Guangdong's health commission and a university concluded that 10.5% were potentially grappling with mental health issues. Detailed findings were not published. In late April, China's education ministry began telling schools to pay attention to mental health and adjust lesson plans so that students feel less academic pressure. Nearly a dozen local governments have since published measures, with the eastern province of Anhui scrapping some exams. The city of Wuhan, the epicentre of the virus in China, Hainan province and Shanghai are among local governments providing new "life education" classes aimed at helping students deal with stress and grief. In one such class, students were divided into two groups who raced to form English words, but one group was given a much harder set of letters - a prompt for a discussion about stressful situations. "The purpose was to make students aware that feeling stressed is natural, and that how you deal with that stress can lead to different outcomes," said the teacher. She was one of six Shanghai-based teachers and school counsellors interviewed for this story. All declined to be identified as they were not authorised to speak to media. "Reopening after the lockdown was very different compared to a normal return by kids after winter vacation," said a counsellor at a Shanghai high school. She said her workload has increased as students consult about academic pressure and study plans, and that she has online meetings with at least two families every week prompted by requests from students. "I am hoping the virus will teach kids how to deal with changes in life. Life is full of difficulties," she said.

In post-lockdown China, student mental health in focus amid reported jump in suicides

Canada’s consumption of alcohol and junk food has gone up during the pandemic. On Sunday, the country’s top health official Theresa Tam expressed fears of the deteriorating mental health of Canadians.

Increased alcohol and junk food consumption, according to her, point to a bigger problem of mental fatigue.

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Canada claims to have passed the “worst of coronavirus”, with the number of infections dipping across the country. On Saturday, the death rate increased by 0.9 per cent. So far, 7,703 people have been killed.

Currently, the country has recorded 95,057 cases of coronavirus.

As the world reels from the economic fallout of lockdowns, most countries are abandoning the total closure approach in favour of precautionary lifestyles, asking people to restart working but while practicing all the needed restrictions.

<h6><img alt="Canada's Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam attends a news conference, as efforts continue to help slow the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada April 9, 2020." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ed0f1a53-547c-44fd-be2e-b75c2107a4cf" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design-8_1.jpg" /> 
A park worker paints circles to help visitors maintain social distancing to slow the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at Trinity Bellwoods park in Toronto, Ontario, Canada May 28, 2020 | Reuters</h6>

 
All ten provinces across Canada are now in the process of reopening. Restrictions on social gatherings will also be lifted. Unemployment in the country has increased with analysts warning the recovery set to take years.

"I am concerned about Canadians' mental health ... more Canadians have increased their consumption of alcohol and junk food or sweets since the beginning of the pandemic," Tam said in a statement.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="wionews.com/world/canada-to-promote-holidays-at-home-because-of-covid-19-border-closures-302144" hreflang="en">Canada to promote holidays at home because of COVID-19 border closures</a>

Tam referred to a survey conducted by Statistics Canada on the effects of the pandemic. The focus of the study was mental health, whereby almost 20 per cent respondents claimed to have been suffering from moderate or severe anxiety.

"While social interactions and activities might look different right now, Canadians should be actively looking for safe ways to socialize, engage in physical activity and make ... healthy food choices," she said.

The country witnessed an increase of 6.7 per cent in the sales of tobacco during February-March.

(With inputs from Reuters and AFP)

Canada’s consumption of alcohol and junk food has gone up during the pandemic. On Sunday, the country’s top health official Theresa Tam expressed fears of the deteriorating mental health of Canadians.

Canada’s consumption of alcohol and junk food has gone up during the pandemic. On Sunday, the country’s top health official Theresa Tam expressed fears of the deteriorating mental health of Canadians. Increased alcohol and junk food consumption, according to her, point to a bigger problem of mental fatigue. Also read: 'Stand up to Trump!' Canada protestors shout to Trudeau at anti-racism rally Canada claims to have passed the “worst of coronavirus”, with the number of infections dipping across the country. On Saturday, the death rate increased by 0.9 per cent. So far, 7,703 people have been killed. Currently, the country has recorded 95,057 cases of coronavirus. As the world reels from the economic fallout of lockdowns, most countries are abandoning the total closure approach in favour of precautionary lifestyles, asking people to restart working but while practicing all the needed restrictions. A park worker paints circles to help visitors maintain social distancing to slow the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at Trinity Bellwoods park in Toronto, Ontario, Canada May 28, 2020 | Reuters All ten provinces across Canada are now in the process of reopening. Restrictions on social gatherings will also be lifted. Unemployment in the country has increased with analysts warning the recovery set to take years. "I am concerned about Canadians' mental health ... more Canadians have increased their consumption of alcohol and junk food or sweets since the beginning of the pandemic," Tam said in a statement. Also read: Canada to promote holidays at home because of COVID-19 border closures Tam referred to a survey conducted by Statistics Canada on the effects of the pandemic. The focus of the study was mental health, whereby almost 20 per cent respondents claimed to have been suffering from moderate or severe anxiety. "While social interactions and activities might look different right now, Canadians should be actively looking for safe ways to socialize, engage in physical activity and make ... healthy food choices," she said. The country witnessed an increase of 6.7 per cent in the sales of tobacco during February-March. (With inputs from Reuters and AFP)

Canada's health chief fears for people's mental health as alcohol consumption spikes

Britain's Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, has revealed that he has been secretly volunteering for a mental health charity during the coronavirus pandemic.

The 37-year-old second in line to the British throne is among 2,000 volunteers who completed a training session and has been responding to text messages from those seeking advice and support through the Shout 85258 phone service.

He told fellow volunteers in a video call: "I'm going to share a little secret with you guys, but I'm actually on the platform volunteering."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/british-pm-offers-to-accept-eu-tariffs-on-some-goods-to-win-trade-deal-303756">Also read:&nbsp;British PM offers to accept EU tariffs on some goods to win trade deal</a>

Kensington Palace announced the royal's involvement to mark the ongoing Volunteers Week, which ends on Sunday. Those using the service would not know if the response is from Prince William, who would be using a pseudonym.

William and wife Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, had helped to launch Shout 85258 last year&nbsp;investing 3 million pounds in the service through their Royal Foundation.

William's younger brother, Prince Harry, and his wife Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, were a part of the effort at the time but have since quit from frontline royalty.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/britain-halts-hydroxychloroquine-trial-for-covid-19-patients-terms-it-useless-303804">Also read:&nbsp;Britain halts hydroxychloroquine trial for COVID-19 patients, terms it 'useless'</a>

The Shout service said that more than 300,000 text conversations have taken place since its launch in May 2019.

Around 65 per cent of those texting are aged under 25, the charity said, with many messengers seeking mental health support.

This week, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridges also made video calls to Conscious Youth, which has set up a virtual youth club to support members in West Yorkshire region of England, and Machynlleth Community Corona Response, in Powys, Wales.

"One of the things that would be amazing, I think, is if everyone in their communities is to carry on and still celebrate volunteering in the way that everyone has been during the pandemic. Everyone's got something to give back," Middleton said.

She has also been calling people who are self-isolating or vulnerable, as part of the Royal Voluntary Service's National Health Service (NHS) Volunteer Responders scheme.

The royal couple are reportedly considering how best to return to resuming royal engagements in person as the coronavirus lockdown begins to be gradually ease, while not encouraging crowds, breaking social distancing, or putting pressure on police resources.

Britain's Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, has revealed that he has been secretly volunteering for a mental health charity during the coronavirus pandemic.

Britain's Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, has revealed that he has been secretly volunteering for a mental health charity during the coronavirus pandemic. The 37-year-old second in line to the British throne is among 2,000 volunteers who completed a training session and has been responding to text messages from those seeking advice and support through the Shout 85258 phone service. He told fellow volunteers in a video call: "I'm going to share a little secret with you guys, but I'm actually on the platform volunteering." Also read: British PM offers to accept EU tariffs on some goods to win trade deal Kensington Palace announced the royal's involvement to mark the ongoing Volunteers Week, which ends on Sunday. Those using the service would not know if the response is from Prince William, who would be using a pseudonym. William and wife Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, had helped to launch Shout 85258 last year investing 3 million pounds in the service through their Royal Foundation. William's younger brother, Prince Harry, and his wife Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, were a part of the effort at the time but have since quit from frontline royalty. Also read: Britain halts hydroxychloroquine trial for COVID-19 patients, terms it 'useless' The Shout service said that more than 300,000 text conversations have taken place since its launch in May 2019. Around 65 per cent of those texting are aged under 25, the charity said, with many messengers seeking mental health support. This week, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridges also made video calls to Conscious Youth, which has set up a virtual youth club to support members in West Yorkshire region of England, and Machynlleth Community Corona Response, in Powys, Wales. "One of the things that would be amazing, I think, is if everyone in their communities is to carry on and still celebrate volunteering in the way that everyone has been during the pandemic. Everyone's got something to give back," Middleton said. She has also been calling people who are self-isolating or vulnerable, as part of the Royal Voluntary Service's National Health Service (NHS) Volunteer Responders scheme. The royal couple are reportedly considering how best to return to resuming royal engagements in person as the coronavirus lockdown begins to be gradually ease, while not encouraging crowds, breaking social distancing, or putting pressure on police resources.

Prince William reveals secret volunteering for mental health charity

Chris Evans almost said no to playing 'Captain America.' The actor in a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter has revealed that he was hesitant to play the Marvel Superhero- a role that eventually catapulted him to superstardom. 
 
Evans reveals that when the role came his way, he was dealing with severe anxiety for several years and had doubts about his acting career. 
 
Evans revealed he first experienced anxiety around the time his film debut in 2007 in&nbsp; 'Human Torch in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer." 
 
"That was back when the superhero thing was just taking off. I had just been dumped and I needed it," he said. 
Evans said he started having panic attacks while filming 'Puncture' in 2010. 
 
"It was the first time I started having mini panic attacks on set," he said. "I really started to think, 'I'm not sure if this (acting) is the right thing for me, I'm not sure if I'm feeling as healthy as I should be feeling.'" 
 
By the time Marvel asked him to test for the role of 'Captain America,' in 2011's 'Captain America: The First Avenger,' he turned them down. 
 
Evans reveals that Marvel came back again and this time offered the role outright. 
 
It took talking to his therapist, family and co-star Robert Downey Jr. to say yes to the role. 
 
"It was the best decision I've ever made, and I really owe that to (Marvel chief) Kevin Feige for being persistent and helping me avoid making a giant mistake," Evans said, adding, "To be honest, all the things that I was fearing never really came to fruition."

Chris Evans almost said no to playing 'Captain America.' The actor in a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter has revealed that he was hesitant to play the Marvel Superhero- a role that eventually catapulted him to superstardom.

Chris Evans almost said no to playing 'Captain America.' The actor in a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter has revealed that he was hesitant to play the Marvel Superhero- a role that eventually catapulted him to superstardom. Evans reveals that when the role came his way, he was dealing with severe anxiety for several years and had doubts about his acting career. Evans revealed he first experienced anxiety around the time his film debut in 2007 in 'Human Torch in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer." "That was back when the superhero thing was just taking off. I had just been dumped and I needed it," he said. Evans said he started having panic attacks while filming 'Puncture' in 2010. "It was the first time I started having mini panic attacks on set," he said. "I really started to think, 'I'm not sure if this (acting) is the right thing for me, I'm not sure if I'm feeling as healthy as I should be feeling.'" By the time Marvel asked him to test for the role of 'Captain America,' in 2011's 'Captain America: The First Avenger,' he turned them down. Evans reveals that Marvel came back again and this time offered the role outright. It took talking to his therapist, family and co-star Robert Downey Jr. to say yes to the role. "It was the best decision I've ever made, and I really owe that to (Marvel chief) Kevin Feige for being persistent and helping me avoid making a giant mistake," Evans said, adding, "To be honest, all the things that I was fearing never really came to fruition."

Chris Evans almost turned down the 'Captain America' role for this reason

The Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) has paired up with Sporting Chance and Headspace to help players and its staff deal with mental health problems and health issues during the times of coronavirus.

The Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) has paired up with Sporting Chance and Headspace to help players and its staff deal with mental health problems and health issues during the times of coronavirus. This tennis season had come to halt since March due to the coronavirus pandemic and will be set to remain suspended till July. Due to the shutdown, players at the lower level have faced difficulties as they solely depended on tournament winnings of the chance to earn a living. The uncertainty over the resumption of the sport has left many players anxious. ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi released a statement on the website which read: "Being mentally strong is just as important as physical strength in tennis and looking after the mental health of our players and staff is a key priority for us." "Everyone has been adapting to periods of self-isolation and decreased physical activity during the pandemic, but this can have a particularly detrimental effect on professional athletes who are used to particular training structure and playing day in day out." Sporting Chance was founded by former England and Arsenal captain Tony Adams which helps with emotional welfare and addictive disorders, it also gives players access to therapists experienced in working with elite athletes. He said: "The challenges that all sports and sports professionals are experiencing in the light of this pandemic will be affecting all of us in different ways." "Holding out our hand to those in need at this time is important to me and working with organisations like the ATP is a pleasure – well done Tennis!" The other partner Headspace will provide free subscriptions to ATP players and employees, giving them access to all 1200+ hours of meditation and mindfulness content. (With inputs from agency)

Tennis: ATP pairs up with Sporting Chance and Headspace to help players with mental health

United Nations health experts have said that coronavirus chaos will leave a bizarre effect on global mental health. Death and spread of the virus have forced everyone into isolation.

United Nations health experts have said that coronavirus chaos will leave a bizarre effect on global mental health. Death and spread of the virus have forced everyone into isolation. Poverty and anxiety have surged due to the pandemic. All of these have led to chaotic mental health across the globe. Also read: UK researchers to study genes of COVID-19 patients to try to crack morbidity Devora Kestel, director of the World Health Organization's (WHO) mental health department has said: "The isolation, the fear, the uncertainty, the economic turmoil - they all cause or could cause psychological distress." Also read: Merkel says have 'hard evidence' on Russian hackers targeting her While presenting the UN report and guideline on mental health and coronavirus, Kestel said that the world will witness a spike in cases and severity of mental illness around the world. She also said that the governments should take this seriously and put the issue "front and centre" pf their COVID responses. At a briefing, she told the reporters: "The mental health and wellbeing of whole societies have been severely impacted by this crisis and are a priority to be addressed urgently." Coronavirus' impact on mental health can already be seen after several cases of children in anxiety and an increase in cases of depression and anxiety have been recorded. Domestic violence and gender discrimination have seen a drastic rise. Health workers have reported an increase in psychological support. Reuters last week reported from interviews with doctors and nurses in the United States who said either they or their colleagues had experienced a combination of panic, anxiety, grief, numbness, irritability, insomnia and nightmares. Economic problems, losing or at the risk of losing livelihood and income, and misinformation and rumours during the pandemic have made people anxious about their future. People have distressed due to instant health impacts, isolation or even by the fear of dying or being infected. It outlined action points for policy-makers to aim "to reduce immense suffering among hundreds of millions of people and mitigate long-term social and economic costs to society". (With Inputs from Reuters)

Coronavirus may leave a permanent scar on global mental health: UN

The coronavirus pandemic and the unprecedented measures to contain its spread are disrupting nearly every aspect of children’s lives: their health, development, learning, behaviour

COVID-19's severe impact on children

India has been on lockdown since March 25, after Prime Minister had declared war on coronavirus and due to the surge in cases, the lockdown had extended. But there has not been much of an improvement and the number of cases continues to soar up, which means the self-imposed lockdown is nowhere near to the end. Google searches done by the Indians shows how the citizens are coping with the lockdown.&nbsp;

Stress and therapy are the most searched amid the nation-wide lockdown. As per the survey conducted by Indian Psychiatric Society shows a 20 per cent rise in mental illness due to uncertainty of work and health.&nbsp;

According to the google trends data, these searches were the most in Andaman &amp; Nicobar Islands, Mizoram and Puducherry. Search for therapy was low in Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.&nbsp;

Searches for suicide were luckily low except on March 29 when German finance minister Thomas Schaefer committed suicide.

Second most searches on the trends were the jobs. Lockdown has elevated the unemployment rate in urban India. That has led to a rise in job searches.&nbsp;

Third in the trends are the recipes, the lockdown has given everyone plenty of time to stay at home and show off their cooking skills on social media. New recipes were the most searched in Goa, Daman &amp; Diu and Karnataka.&nbsp;

India has been on lockdown since March 25, after Prime Minister had declared war on coronavirus and due to the surge in cases, the lockdown had extended. But there has not been much of an improvement and the number of cases continues to soar up, which means the self-imposed lockdown is nowhere near to the end.

India has been on lockdown since March 25, after Prime Minister had declared war on coronavirus and due to the surge in cases, the lockdown had extended. But there has not been much of an improvement and the number of cases continues to soar up, which means the self-imposed lockdown is nowhere near to the end. Google searches done by the Indians shows how the citizens are coping with the lockdown. Stress and therapy are the most searched amid the nation-wide lockdown. As per the survey conducted by Indian Psychiatric Society shows a 20 per cent rise in mental illness due to uncertainty of work and health. According to the google trends data, these searches were the most in Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Mizoram and Puducherry. Search for therapy was low in Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Searches for suicide were luckily low except on March 29 when German finance minister Thomas Schaefer committed suicide. Second most searches on the trends were the jobs. Lockdown has elevated the unemployment rate in urban India. That has led to a rise in job searches. Third in the trends are the recipes, the lockdown has given everyone plenty of time to stay at home and show off their cooking skills on social media. New recipes were the most searched in Goa, Daman & Diu and Karnataka.

Stress, Job, Food! Google trends display how Indians cope with lockdown

Those who have coronavirus symptoms, must maintain distance from their family members and ensure that the infection is not transmitted to other people, says Dr Sameer Kulkarni, Faculty Director, Paras Hospital, Gurugram

Experts on WION: Don't panic - Dr Sameer Kulkarni lists dos and don'ts in case you have symptoms

Dr. Pankaj Gupta, President, IIHMR University, Jaipur on Corona Virus and its impact on society.

Experts on WION: Dr Pankaj Gupta on coronavirus and its impact on society

Doctor Maissa turns singer to spread the message on the importance of social distancing. Video source: Maissa Rosie

English doctor pens song to stress the importance of social distancing

Dr Samir Parikh: Psychiatrist and the Director of the Department of Mental Health and Behavioural Sciences, Fortis Healthcare, talks about what to do during self quarantine

Dr Samir Parikh:  Do's and don'ts during self quarantine

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