Latest news with #ScientificReports
The Hindu
13 hours ago
- Health
- The Hindu
Why India needs comprehensive school mental health programmes
India finds itself at a critical juncture concerning mental health, with the most recent surveys and studies painting a stark picture. The National Mental Health Survey 2015-2016, though about a decade old, revealed alarming statistics: approximately 10.6% of the population has grappled with mental health issues at some point, with 13.7% currently affected as of then. Scope of the issue A study published in a journal, Scientific Reports (2022) on mental health status in students revealed that 27% of children and adolescents experienced depression, 26% had anxiety disorders, 7% exhibited hyperactivity, and 9%, 19%, and 15% experienced emotional, conduct, and peer problems, respectively. Moreover, the student suicide rate reported in this study is 9%, which surpasses the rate reported by the National Crime Record Bureau (2022), standing at 7.6%. There has been a staggering 32% increase in student suicides from 2017 to 2022. Depression and suicides are not the only mental health issues of rising concern in the country: a study published in General Psychiatry (2021) found that internet addiction among students in 19 states of India ranges from 19.9% to 40.7%. This high prevalence highlights the growing issue of internet dependency among young people in the country. Further, recent clinical and community-level observations underscore the rising tide of behavioural addictions among Indian youth, most prominently related to excessive use of social media, video games, online pornography, and mobile phones. These addictions are often linked with poor academic performance, sleep disturbances, emotional dysregulation, and familial conflict. Data from de-addiction clinics like SHUT Clinic at NIMHANS shows that technology-related behavioural issues now constitute a significant proportion of youth mental health concerns. Despite this, such addictions are often under-recognised and under-treated, due to stigma, lack of awareness, and insufficient inclusion in mainstream school mental health discussions. This emerging pattern necessitates urgent attention in policy and programming. How far have we reached? In the past, India has taken some necessary steps to tackle public mental health issues. Now, it is crucial to carefully assess these actions' scale, strategy, and impact. This assessment will guide us in taking further steps that are both effective and efficient, ensuring maximum benefit for all. One such impact of our decision is India's relative success in curbing suicide rates compared to other countries. A study published in the journal, World Journal of Psychiatry (2022) examined and compared suicide rates globally, regionally, and nationally from 2000 to 2019. An analysis of the published results of this study demonstrated significant progress in India in reducing suicide rates from 19.1 to 12.9 per 100,000 persons over the last two decades (2000-2019). This decline surpasses Japan's reduction to 5.9 per 100,000 persons and South Africa's to 3.1 per 100,000 people. Canada and Australia saw marginal decreases of 0.4 and 0.5 suicides per 100,000 persons, respectively, while the United States experienced an increase to 4.5 suicides per 100,000 persons. Proactive steps to tackle mental health issues include initiatives like the National Mental Health Programme running since 1982, the District Mental Health Programmes, and the newly-introduced National Tele Mental Health Programme. Gaps persist Despite these efforts however, a stark treatment gap persists, with the National Mental Health Survey revealing that only 29% of individuals with psychiatric disorders receive treatment, leaving 71% untreated. This gap underscores the mismatch between demand and supply in mental health services. To bridge gaps, policy-makers must focus on community-based services and school mental health initiatives. Urgent investment in mental health is crucial to reduce disparities and address this escalating crisis. It is essential for stakeholders, such as governmental bodies, policy-makers, educational institutions, parents, students, media, and researchers, to prioritise mental health care. Integrating mental health education, resilience building, and coping skill training into regular school and college activities and school curricula will create a supportive environment to promote mental well-being in educational institutions in India. Why do schools hold strategic importance? A mental health study published in another reputed international journal in 2024 on students' suicide in India provides insight into how to tackle this public particular mental health challenge. It identifies patterns, trends and crucial risk factors, emphasising the urgency of improving school-based mental health interventions in India to tackle rising suicide rates. Global mental health agendas, such as the World Health Organization's Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan 2013–2030, emphasise the pivotal role of schools in promoting mental health awareness and supporting adolescents. School-based suicide prevention, early socio-emotional skills development and anti-bullying programmes are essential components of comprehensive mental health strategies. The World Mental Health Report (2022), WHO, emphasises the vital role of schools in addressing mental health issues through education, supportive environments, and collaboration with health services. By enhancing mental health literacy, training educators, and involving parents and communities, schools can effectively promote the mental well-being of young people. Key strategies in implementation and call for action Given India's vast student population, integrating digital mental health services like the nationwide helpline Tele-MANAS (1-800-891-4416) in educational institutions is essential. Establishing a Mental Health Advisory Board (MHAB) comprising trained teachers under institutional leadership can facilitate structured mental health initiatives. Schools must conduct mental health orientations for teachers and students, fostering resilience through workshops and peer support. Providing structured psychological support before, during, and after exams can help students manage anxiety and distress. Also, parents and teachers should adopt stress-free communication strategies to foster a positive environment, emphasising that education is just one aspect of personal growth and development. Institutions should promote helplines such as Tele-MANAS and others to ensure students seek timely support. Embedding these mental health initiatives in education will foster student well-being, resilience and academic success, creating a more inclusive learning environment. Therefore the main recommendations are : establishing a Special Task Force on Mental Health in Educational Institutions to prioritise the well-being of students and staff; integrating mental health services in educational institutions through district mental health services, Tele-MANAS and other possible alternative ways and having district mental health teams train ASHA and Anganwadi workers in illness identification, psychological first aid for children and mothers and to recognise the need for referral to advanced mental health services if needed. Role of educational regulatory bodies To prioritise mental health in education, mental health audits should be included in the accreditation process of educational institutions from primary to higher education. Integrate tele-counselling skills into master 's-level psychology and social work courses to prepare students for remote mental health support. The establishment and implementation of Mental Health Advisory Boards (MHABs) as per directives from the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), and the Government of India agencies should be mandated. A team of school counsellors trained and led by mental health professionals (e.g., psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, and psychiatric social workers) should be formed. This team could collaborate with the institute's MHAB to train teachers and students to promote mental health in educational institutions. Media also plays a vital role -- publishing weekly editions of educative, informative and skill-building editorials, along with dedicated sections in local language newspapers, to enhance mental health awareness; providing insights into treatment options, and improving accessibility to mental health services can go a long way. Hosting weekly programs on television, news channels, radio, YouTube and Instagram featuring discussions, mental health bulletins and informative shows for parents and students will help. In conclusion, school mental health programmes play a crucial role in promoting mental well-being, preventing mental illnesses, and reducing stigma. With comprehensive efforts and national implementation, these programmes can potentially transform mental health outcomes for students and communities across India. (Dr. Manoj K. Pandey is professor & head, department of clinical psychology, Post Graduate Institute of Behavioural & Medical Sciences, Raipur, CG. manojpandey813@ Dr Manoj Kumar Sharma is professor, department of clinical psychology, SHUT Clinic (Service for Healthy Use of Technology), National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences, Bengaluru. shutclinic@
Time of India
18 hours ago
- Science
- Time of India
Raiganj univ scientists discover new species of soil bacteria
1 2 3 Malda: Researchers at Bengal's Raiganj University have discovered a new species of soil bacteria that exhibits strong antimicrobial properties and significantly enhances seed germination, indicating its immense potential in promoting plant health and productivity. The bacterium was isolated from the rhizosphere of mulberry plants, a key component of the region's sericulture and farming systems. The newly discovered species has been named Bacillus ayatagriensis, inspired by the name of the lead scientist Amit Kumar Mandal's daughter Aayat. The name combines "Aayat", derived in Sanskrit as "Ayata" and "Krishi", meaning agriculture. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata The study was conducted in the field of applied microbiology under the leadership of Mandal from the department of sericulture. He was joined by an interdisciplinary team comprising Sandip Das, Rittick Mondal, Pankaj Mandal, Shubhajit Shaw, Joydeep Chakraborty, Debnirmalya Gangopadhyay and Abdul Sadat. The group of scientists conducted a comprehensive analysis of the bacterium's bioactive potential, laying the groundwork for future applications in eco-friendly agriculture. The discovery marks the first official report of a novel microbial species from Raiganj University and has already found a place in renowned journals such as Scientific Reports. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trending in in 2025: Local network access control [Click Here] Esseps Learn More Undo Durlabh Sarkar, registrar of the university, said, "It is a great achievement by Mandal and his team which will encourage students in this part of the world." Lead scientist Mandal said, "As Bacillus ayatagriensis enters scientific literature, it stands as more than a promising tool for green agriculture. It becomes a symbol — of love, legacy and profound connections between scientific progress and human values."
Scientific American
3 days ago
- Science
- Scientific American
A Sodom and Gomorrah Story Shows Scientific Facts Aren't Settled by Public Opinion
In 2021 a multidisciplinary team of researchers claimed that a Tunguska-sized airburst, larger than any such airburst in human history, destroyed a Bronze Age city near the Dead Sea. The story went viral. This alleged destruction of Tall el-Hammam around 1650 BCE, with reports of melted pottery and mudbricks, pointed to the Bible, the team concluded in Scientific Reports, noting 'what could be construed as the destruction of a city by an airburst/impact event.' News outlets from Smithsonian to the Times in Britain covered the report. It had all the ingredients—with authors touting its connection to the biblical cities of Sodom and Gomorrah—to make it pure clickbait gold. On the day it was published, one of the co-authors posted links on his blog to their three press releases. A week later he asserted that it was 'the most read scientific paper on Earth' based on 250,000 article accesses. Science, however, is not a popularity contest, and the 'cosmic outburst' story indeed holds a different lesson than the one first supposed, about how the public should hear incredible claims. In April, just before the study passed the 666,000 mark, Scientific Reports retracted the finding, writing that 'claims that an airburst event destroyed the Middle Bronze Age city of Tall el-Hammam appear to not be sufficiently supported by the data in the Article,' and that 'the Editors no longer have confidence that the conclusions presented are reliable.' Independent scientists (I was one of them) had alerted them to faulty methodology, errors of fact and inappropriate manipulation of digital image data. One study co-author responded to the retraction in an online post with claims that the editor had caved to harassment by skeptics, concluding that the 'court of public opinion is much more powerful than a shadowy hatchetman spamming a corrupt editor's inbox.' On supporting science journalism If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today. Public opinion does influence policy decisions and funding priorities in science. People are interested in new medical cures and new starry discoveries, which helps explain why we have a NASA and an NIH. That's why it is important for the public to be scientifically literate and well informed. But scientific facts are determined by the scientific method, logic and evidence, all presented in peer-reviewed publications that require reproducible results. Scientists don't vote on findings, but they do achieve consensus by convergence on understandings based on multiple studies across many fields. The Sodom airburst paper instead represented the nadir of 'science by press release,' in which sensational but thinly supported claims were pitched directly to the media and the public. Press releases, rife with references to Sodom and biblical implications, appeared to be focused as much on titillation as on science. A meme, in its original definition, is a self-propagating unit of cultural information that is highly fit in the evolutionary sense. Like genes, memes can be engineered. Science by press release can be an effective first step in the creation and laundering of such memes into the public's collective consciousness. The authors of the Sodom airburst paper did this well. Their press releases were quickly picked up and repeated by both online clickbait media and mainstream media. The Sodom airburst meme was so successful that it achieved pop culture status and public acceptance within a year of the paper's publication, in this ' Final Jeopardy! ' question: 'A 2021 study suggested that an asteroid that struck the Jordan Valley c. 1650 B.C, gave rise to the story of this city in Genesis 19.' (Winning answer: 'What is Sodom?') I am under no illusion that this myth will suddenly be rejected by the public just because the paper was retracted. It is a sticky and compelling idea that has been around since it was suggested by astronomer Gerald Hawkins in 1961. I think it is far more likely that it will join the large and growing pantheon of persistent false beliefs, folk facts and urban legends. Contrary to that bastion of error, scientists know that humans use more than 10 percent of their brains, vaccines don't cause autism, 'detox diets' don't cleanse our bodies, toads don't give us warts, and bulls don't hate the color red. Many of those myths are harmless. It won't hurt you to avoid kissing toads, for example. Belief in other scientifically incorrect claims can be extremely dangerous. Avoid vaccinating your children, and you subject them to the risk of serious illness or death. What would it hurt if most people thought that God sent an asteroid to wipe out the people of Sodom, because of their wicked ways? That could go either way. The Old Testament, in Ezekial 16:49-50, says that they were punished because they were 'arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy.' Would it be a bad thing if fear of an asteroid makes us better people? But it could also generate opposition to planetary defense programs to plan for and prevent the impact of an asteroid if we discover one on a collision course. If the majority of people think it's God's will and that we've got it coming, then why shouldn't we just accept our fate? Ultimately, science-informed choices are always the best ones, whether they involve personal decisions about vaccination or public policies for climate change mitigation. When faith inspires people to better themselves, I'm all for that, too. It shouldn't take irrational and unscientific fear of fire and brimstone from an asteroid airburst to make us want to be more humble, kind and generous than the people of Sodom supposedly were.
Forbes
5 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Forbes
4 Habits Couples In Fulfilling Relationships Share, By A Psychologist
By doing these four things every day, you create the foundation for a healthy, lasting and ... More emotionally satisfying relationship. At the heart of any fulfilling relationship is how safe, seen and secure you feel when you're with your partner. But in the tidal wave of everyday life, the tiny moments of connection that used to come so easily often get lost in the shuffle. And before you know it, you're feeling like you've lost the spark that made love so easy. Reigniting that chemistry begins with four easy habits, ones you likely did naturally when you initially started dating. With some purpose and persistence, they're easier to revive than you may think. Here are four habits that sustain love and satisfaction in relationships. 1. Playfulness And Physical Affection The best part about being in an emotionally fulfilling relationship is knowing you can show up exactly as you are, with everything that makes you 'you.' When couples feel secure, they often express affection through doing things that may appear silly, such as light teasing, playful tussles, acting like children, head rubs or holding hands. These non-sexual touches and moments of harmless absurdity signal emotional safety that says, 'I feel safe enough with you to let my guard down.' In fact, a 2024 study published in Scientific Reports looked at over 460 couples and explored how different kinds of playfulness show up in relationships. They described four types of adult playfulness: And this is what they found: Couples who were more playful, especially those who were lighthearted and socially warm, tended to feel more secure in their relationships. They were less likely to avoid intimacy or feel anxious about being loved. Playfulness also helped reduce romantic jealousy. So, when you joke around, wrestle on the couch or make up weird play-pretend scenarios, they signal a fundamental sense of safety in your relationship. Over time, this safety becomes the groundwork for deeper intimacy, ease of communication and a partnership that feels emotionally spacious. 2. Domestic Chores As Rituals Of Intimacy The most meaningful moments in a relationship don't necessarily happen during planned dates or long getaways. While these events can deepen commitment, real bonding often takes place in everyday 'micro-moments.' When a relationship is emotionally satisfying, the ordinary turns extraordinary simply because it's shared with your partner. Doing chores together such as cooking or watching your plants grow, even deciding 'what to eat today' can turn into small rituals of connection. A 2020 study of over 480 couples, published in Socius, found that sharing household chores is closely tied to higher relationship satisfaction, but not just because the work is split. The key factor was how partners communicated around these tasks. When communication was open, supportive and emotionally attuned, couples were more likely to share domestic work in a way that felt fair and unifying. For women, especially, having a partner who contributed and communicated well led to a deeper sense of satisfaction and equity. For men, good communication often follows from sharing chores, highlighting how participation itself can reinforce closeness. Domestic labor carries emotional meaning. It's not just about cleaning or cooking. It reflects care, investment and mutual respect in the shared understanding that 'We are doing this life together.' 3. Daily Emotional Check-Ins When you are in a relationship that feels emotionally safe and connected, daily emotional check-ins come naturally. You find some time to spend together simply to check in on how everything's going lately, whether that's in the morning over breakfast and shared coffee or at night when you are winding up after a long day of work. And this is more important than you may think. A 2020 study explored how daily relationship mindfulness — being openly and receptively attentive to your partner in the present moment — affects day-to-day relationship behaviors. Researchers found that on days when one partner was more mindful, couples experienced: Interestingly, when relationship mindfulness was low on a given day, many partners with insecure attachment styles responded with more positive behaviors the next day, possibly as a way to 'make up for it.' The study shows that even small daily fluctuations in presence and attunement can shape the emotional tone of your relationship. 4. Parallel Play And Creative Collaboration There's a unique sort of emotional intimacy that emerges when couples create side by side, working on their own thing while knowing the other person is right there with them. This kind of 'parallel play' and collaborative effort can come from shared hobbies, such as playing different games side by side simply because you enjoy their company, writing screenplays together to know what their inner world feels like or playing music and singing covers. You can even help each other with work if you're in the same field. In 2021, a study published in Psychology of Music discovered that couples who spent time doing shared music activities, such as listening to a song together or making music for fun, reported that they had higher levels of commitment, positive communication and emotional coordination within their relationship. Surprisingly, structured performances and official duets weren't what created this sense of closeness. It was the casual, extemporaneous co-creation that created a closer sense of 'us.' The authors refer to this as the Shared Musical Activities in Relationships (SMAR) model, demonstrating the way music can subtly coordinate emotions, fuel better communication and create deeper relational trust. This shows that emotional connection doesn't always require a deep conversation. Sometimes presence and support are enough, which affirms, 'We are team; it's us against the world.' By following these four habits, couples can build emotionally fulfilling relationships. Sometimes, all it takes is the intent and willingness to bring back what lit you up when you first started dating. Want to know how emotionally fulfilling your relationship really is? Take this science-backed test to see where you and your partner stand: Relationship Flourishing Scale
Edmonton Journal
21-06-2025
- Science
- Edmonton Journal
What we know about yawning, from why we do it to why it's contagious
Article content Yawning is strange. It's not obviously just mechanical, like a burp to release gas pressure, or just psychological, like a yelp to express fear or excitement. A yawn is more like a sneeze or a hiccup, an involuntary breath event that is sometimes more or less resistible. But what is really strange, almost unique among human behaviours, is that yawning is contagious. Article content New research on chimpanzees by a British team of cognitive scientists shows contagious yawning is not only common in other species, and can happen between species, but that it can also be induced in chimps by an obviously artificial humanoid robot, an android 'agent' that is just a creepy looking disembodied head and shoulders, and which doesn't even breathe, but which can still give a believable facsimile of a yawn. The paper, published this month in Nature Scientific Reports, details an experiment in which the chimps were shown three behaviours by the android: a full wide-mouth yawn, a more moderate gaping mouth, and a closed mouth. 'The results showed that adult chimpanzees exhibited across-agent yawn contagion, with a graded response: the highest contagion occurred when the android displayed a fully wide-open mouth (Yawn condition), a reduced response when the mouth was partially opened (Gape condition), and no contagion when the android's mouth was closed,' the paper says. Article content And the chimps did not only yawn in response to the yawning robot. They also 'engaged in behaviours associated with drowsiness,' basically by preparing a comfortable place to lie down. 'This suggests that yawning by an unfamiliar model may act as a contextual cue for rest, rather than merely triggering a motor resonance response,' the paper says. Diverse species exhibit contagious yawning, certainly mammals like dogs and cats, but even fish, whose respiratory system shares evolutionary origins with our own. Most vertebrates yawn, but those that are known to yawn contagiously are usually pack animals, somehow social. This suggests the evolutionary purpose of the yawn is at least partly at the level of the group, not just the individual. A sneeze just tries to blast stuff out of your nose, a burp just lets gas out of your belly, but a yawn means something to other people. Not always, of course, Yawning might, for example, help cool the brain for optimal performance, as one theory holds. But yawning also involves empathy, as its contagious aspect shows. It is a social phenomenon, and catching, like laughter. 'What I find strange is that if we see someone walking, we don't an feel urge to walk. But with yawning, we do,' said Ramiro Joly-Mascheroni, a research fellow in social and cognitive neuroscience at City St. George's University of London in the U.K., in an interview. There are a few other behaviours like this. Itching and scratching can be contagious, and tickling seems to rely on an empathetic response to the tickler in order to elicit laughter as opposed to mere annoyance. Article content Joly-Mascheroni has been intrigued by this for years, and investigated it seriously for at least two decades, prompted in the first instance by once realizing he was able to make his dog yawn by yawning himself. At the time, he was studying developmental disorders such as autism, which is often characterized by an inability to empathize or perceive what others are thinking. He was also interested in social interaction during sensory impairment, prompted by his late father's worsening blindness. A key early finding in this research program, of which the new paper is the latest contribution, was that children with autism do not yawn contagiously as much as other children. That seemed to suggest their impaired ability to imagine another person's thoughts was interfering with the contagious aspect of yawning. Later work complicated this finding, by showing that if autistic children were instructed to keep looking at the yawner's face, the difference would disappear. Article content Joly-Mascheroni hypothesized that it was not so much seeing the open mouth that caused the contagion, but rather the eye contact. So he did experiments with eye-tracking technology, but these were inconclusive. People tended to look at the yawning mouth more than the eyes. The chimpanzees in the latest study with the android were from a rescue facility in Spain, and many had been traumatized in earlier life, used and abused in circuses or in advertising. Some demonstrated behaviours comparable to human psychopathy or mental distress, such as rocking back and forth, which might also suggest an impaired empathetic reaction to other chimps or people. Human psychopaths, for example, don't yawn contagiously, and they don't feel tickling, in both cases Joly-Mascheroni said as a result of insensitivity to other people's emotions, good or bad. Article content But the rescued chimps plainly love their current handlers, and Joly-Mascheroni said you would expect they would therefore be more susceptible to the effect of socially contagious yawning from these handlers. But the opposite was true. The chimps would yawn contagiously with strangers more than with their familiar handlers. This is how he got thinking about androids, the ultimate strangers. So while yawning remains mysterious, Joly-Mascheroni thinks he has a grasp on the basics. Yawning happens at the interface of rest and arousal, he said. It might signal to a group that it is time to sleep, or that some members are about to sleep so others should be awake. That is a plausible evolutionary origin with good explanatory power for the contagion. Yawning may have emerged as what the paper describes as 'a pre-language form of communication.' Article content Latest National Stories
