A moment that changed me: My mother fell off a mountain – and my life began again
A bad breakup had made me afraid I would be mired in anger for ever. But on that family hike, in our fear and horror as we awaited the air ambulance, my old hurts took on a different hueTo steal a well-known line, 2023 is not a year on which I shall look…
The one change that worked: Anxiety had me hiding from the world – then two magic questions set me free
I used to be terrified of socialising, certain I would embarrass myself the moment I opened my mouth. And as for dates …As with a lot of teenagers, social confidence was not my strong suit. Throughout my time at school in the early 2010s, I hated the…
When a celebrity dies, it can feel like losing a loved one. Why do we get so invested in parasocial relationships? | Bianca Denny
These one-sided connections with famous people are a normal part of modern life. But sometimes they can lead to emotional distressThe modern mind is a column where experts discuss mental health issues they are seeing in their work“It came as such a…
Does avoiding misery make you happy?
It might seem like self-preservation, but the results aren’t necessarily what you’d expectIn Dr Seuss’s Green Eggs and Ham, the relentlessly upbeat Sam-I-Am spends the entire book badgering a grouchy, nameless narrator into tasting the eponymous dish. He…
‘It’s problematic’: concern as weight-loss jab maker sponsors Vogue World event
Critics say partnership between Mounjaro maker Eli Lilly and fashion giant suggests thinness is an aspirationThe fifth iteration of Vogue World, overseen by Anna Wintour, took place in Milan on Tuesday night. Gigi Hadid and Jennifer Lopez provided…
‘They accepted the money but didn’t take care of my child’: what Luna Wong’s death reveals about the treatment of international students in the UK
When her parents waved her off to study in England they hoped it would be a fresh start the 16-year-old needed after struggling with her mental health in Hong Kong. Instead, 10 months later, she was dead. What went so wrong?As a young teen, one of Luna…
NHS bodies in England impose two-year minimum wait for ADHD and autism assessments
Patient groups decry ‘scandalous’ delays as four integrated care boards take step due to soaring demand for diagnosesNHS bodies are forcing people with suspected attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism to wait at least two years before they…
I love my life and my cup is full but I’m drowning in shame for things left undone. How can I balance it all? | Leading questions
You are not the only one, advice columnist Eleanor Gordon-Smith writes. It will help to ask whether you have a time problem or a bandwidth problemRead more Leading questionsI love my life in so many ways. I have a rewarding job, I’m making stellar…
Stop the Ofsted inspections that are harming teachers | Letters
Readers on the new grading regime that is causing more stress and health issues for school staff than ever beforeYour report (New Ofsted inspection regime is damaging our health, headteachers say, 21 September) reflects what those of us supporting school…
Prison Letters: the teenager writing letters to jailed climate activists – documentary
A teenager struggling with climate anxiety searches for hope in an unexpected place – writing letters to imprisoned activists. Max, 14, is on a quest to understand the human stories behind direct action and why so many climate protesters are in prison.…