Mental Health

Social media firms face legal reckoning over mental health harms to kids

For years, social media companies have disputed allegations that they harm children's mental health through deliberate design choices that addict kids to their platforms and fail to protect them from sexual predators and dangerous content. Now, these tech giants are getting a chance to make their case in courtrooms around the country, including before a jury for the first time. Some of the biggest players from Meta to TikTok are facing federal and state trials that seek to hold them responsible for harming children's mental health. The lawsuits have come from school districts, local, state and the federal government as well as thousands of families. Two trials are now underway in Los Angeles and in New Mexico, with more to come. The courtroom showdowns are the culmination of years of scrutiny of the platforms over child safety, and whether deliberate design choices make them addictive and serve up content that leads to depression, eating disorders or suicide. Experts see the reckon

Who lives a good single life? Study shows why some flourish, others struggle

A new study finds that autonomy, secure attachment and a sense of choice, not casual sex, shape whether single people flourish or struggle

How savouring shared experiences can help couples stay strong together

Couples who pause to savour shared positive moments report greater closeness, fewer conflicts and stronger confidence in their future together, a new study finds

Do positive affirmations work? Psychologist examines the evidence

Positive self-talk is only helpful in safe environments. In unsafe or harmful situations (for example, an abusive relationship) staying positive may blind you to potential dangers

Valentine's Day after heartbreak: Why grief resurfaces unexpectedly

Single after a breakup? Valentine's Day can magnify grief, longing, and self-doubt, and a psychotherapist explains why that ache is normal and how to move through it

Can exercise replace antidepressants, therapy? New study suggests yes

From running to yoga, exercise is found to significantly reduce depression and anxiety across all ages, according to a major review of over 1,000 trials

Why Valentine's Day brings anxiety, not romance, for many couples

Behind the roses and candlelight, Valentine's Day can quietly magnify unspoken expectations, comparison and emotional pressure within relationships

When play turns harmful: How excessive mobile gaming affects young minds

As mobile games become more immersive, doctors highlight rising concerns around emotional regulation, anxiety, sleep disruption and social withdrawal in children

Mental health screening may be the missing link in heart safety, says study

A global review of data from over 22 million people links mental disorders to higher risks of heart attacks, suggesting mental health screening may need to become part of routine heart disease prevent

More business people die by suicide than farmers for 4th consecutive year

Rise in cases highlights a critical need for expanded mental health support and structural reform

Social media fuels rising mental disorders, suicidal thoughts among teens

Social networks exploit young people's vulnerability and actually help boost certain disorders that they are prone to

How mental health has changed in baby boomers, Gen X across their adulthood

In both cohorts, mental health was generally at its best during a person's 30s; but, from middle age, average levels of psychological distress began to increase

From Nimhans 2.0 to biopharma, Budget 2026 reshapes health priorities

Budget 2026 puts mental health, biopharma manufacturing and medical skilling at the centre, with Nimhans 2.0 and drug affordability shaping a broader healthcare realignment

Trauma bonding decoded: Why some harmful relationships feel impossible to leave

Trauma bonding explains how unresolved emotional wounds, brain chemistry and fear-based attachment can trap people in harmful relationships that feel addictive and difficult to escape

Is texting cheating? How modern infidelity damages mental wellbeing

Infidelity has changed with technology, but its impact hasn't. Emotional, physical and digital betrayals can all trigger lasting psychological distress and health consequences, psychologists warn

Why the viral 'nihilist penguin' reminds neurologists of Alzheimer's disease

Viral clip of a penguin heading towards mountains, dubbed 'nihilist penguin', has resonated online as symbol of burnout. A neurologist explains why its behaviour may resemble that seen in Alzheimer's

Why staying single for long in your late 20s may affect mental wellbeing

Singlehood is increasingly normalised, yet new research tracking young adults in Germany and the UK finds prolonged singlehood may affect happiness and mental well-being

Career breaks for mental health: A smart investment for long-term growth

As burnout rises across industries, experts say stepping away from work for mental health may be the key to stronger leadership, creativity and long-term career stability

India's mental health care workforce must quadruple to meet needs

Country has 0.75 psychiatrists per 100,000 people: Less than the world average of 1.3

How peer pressure shapes health choices of youth and how to push back

As social acceptance takes centre stage in adolescence, peer pressure can quietly shape health behaviours. Experts outline warning signs and the importance of saying no