Latest news with #youth
Daily Mail
17 minutes ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Alarm over fit young women with silent 'old people' disorder... and the terrifyingly common cause
They appear to be the picture of health - young women in the prime of their youth with glowing skin and fit physiques. But, for a growing number quietly struggling with a crippling 'invisible' condition usually associated with old age, looks can be deceptive. Your browser does not support iframes.
Washington Post
8 hours ago
- General
- Washington Post
Cyberbullying can cause PTSD symptoms in kids, study finds
Cyberbullying in any form can cause symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and should be considered an 'adverse childhood experience' (ACE), a recent analysis finds. Writing in BMC Public Health, researchers drew from a nationally representative sample of 13-to-17-year-olds in the United States, homing in on the 53.9 percent of the group that reported having been cyberbullied in the past.
Daily Mail
8 hours ago
- General
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE The DEATH of fun! Fury as NIMBY neighbours force council to close public basketball court for 'mad' reason after similar militant locals BAN weddings and drinking near their homes
It's official - fun is under attack. Across Britain, ordinary people, especially the young, are being hounded, hobbled and harassed by joyless NIMBYs and killjoy councils obsessed with banning anything louder than a whisper. The latest madness? A public basketball court, a lifeline for teens in the town of Walmer, Kent - has been shut down because neighbours complained it was 'too noisy'. The town council also added that unlocking and locking the area was costing £1,200 a year, which it described as not being cost-effective for taxpayers'. This isn't an isolated incident. Across the country, similar stories are cropping up with alarming regularity. In Wiltshire the council refused to allow a stunning country home, Euridge Manor, an application to hold events because of complaints from locals that it would be 'like having a disco in the back garden'. Similarly an iconic gay London nightclub, G-A-Y, has been put on the market after its owner said strict licensing conditions and NIMBYs contributed to the area 'losing its queer identity'. NIMBYs even tried to block the conversion of a local property in Brandlesholme into a children's home as it will be 'detrimental to others living in the area'. So MailOnline has found some some of the most ridiculous examples of residents getting their way at all costs. A town council has sparked fury by closing a tiny basketball court in a seaside town after complaints teenagers have been making too much noise. Angry locals now fear the teenagers who used the area will 'cause chaos' in the town of Deal in Kent. Walmer Town Council has closed the multi-use games area (Muga) after some locals complained about noise coming from youths playing late at night. But residents nearby described the decision as 'really sad' and 'upsetting'. The town council said unlocking and locking the area was costing £1,200 a year, which it described as not being cost-effective for taxpayers'. Some locals said they wanted to see action taken against youths making noise late at night but believe a total closure is 'madness'. Dianne Begg, 77, who lives opposite, said a total closure had caused her upset. She said: 'The noise at times could be annoying. Especially late at night when the ball hit the fence, it was bang, bang, bang. 'It could be frightening. But I am shocked to hear they have closed it all together. What use will that do? They'll have nowhere to go. It's not a good idea.' Martyn O'Connor, 56, who has lived in the area for ten years, said the decision was 'madness'. The plumber said: 'I can't believe they've done that. It's foolish. It's madness. There was some noise every so often. But don't move into a house opposite a sports field if you don't want to hear noise. What do people expect? It's literally ten metres away. 'Go and live in the middle of nowhere if you don't want some noise. Closing it is very foolish. There's no benefit. You'll just have youths playing on the streets and hanging around rather than doing something active. 'Walmer isn't exactly full of wonderful things to do or tourist attractions. This at least gave the kids a purpose and it's an activity. To close it is a very backward decision.' But Kevin Gordon, 62, said the noise was 'hellish'. He said: 'I live opposite and it's a real pain. It does my head in. 'I can't get sleep because often they're playing at 10 and 11pm. It's a nightmare. It's frightening. 'It sounds like they'll be coming through the front door. They've hit my windows before, I feared they would smash.' Another local said: 'The people complaining have got nothing better to do. In Britain, in 2025 right now, there are far more serious and pressing matters to deal with.' WTC started a consultation on the future of the Muga in July 2024. They say this showed that only a small number of people were using the facility. Councilor Mike Eddy said: 'We have had complaints about the noise. Discussions are now ongoing about the future.' Walmer council leader Trevor Bond said he was assessing the concerns of locals. A spokesman for the council said: 'The decision was taken based on a few factors. 'We ran a survey on the usage of the Muga and found that only a minimal number of people were using the facility. 'When this was combined with the cost of opening the facility, members felt that this was no longer a cost-effective usage of the taxpayers' money. 'Walmer Town Council received regular complaints about the noise from the facility from the neighbours about the facility. 'Another factor the council took into account was that down the road there has been significant investment in the facilities at both Victoria Park and Marke Wood. The Muga will remain locked and unused by the public for the foreseeable future, and there are no plans to demolish the site. No parties And Walmer locals are not the only ones waging war on their local area. Soho has always been the life of the party for London's cocktail sippers and club-goers but not one one street. In the heart of central London, the lights have gone out in one of the capital's most well-loved clubs. The iconic gay nightclub has been forced to sell up after its owner said strict licensing conditions and NIMBYs contributed to the area 'losing its queer identity'. G-A-Y nightclub in Soho was listed for sale in January by its owner Jeremy Joseph, who expressed his 'sadness' and disappointment at Soho 'losing its vibrancy'. Mr Joseph, 58, also took aim at 'anyone with power' and said they did not care about the hospitality sector or LGBT venues which has left Old Compton Street - where the club is situated - no longer feeling like 'the gayest'. The club, which spans 4,600 sq ft over its vast three floors is available now for a price of £410,000 per year which has been backdated from October 2024 to October 2044. The agreement means whoever purchases the lease will pay more than £8 million to own the property in roughly two decades time. The move to list the club for sale comes just two months after G-A-Y's sister venue, Heaven, was temporarily closed due to an alleged rape of a female by a male bouncer. 'This isn't an easy decision, to me this is more than just a bar,' Mr Joseph's Instagram statement read. PIctured is the statement by G-A-Y's owner, posted on Instagram announcing the sale The 58-year-old went on to take aim at The Soho Society, the police and environmental authorities after when describing how his plans to extend G-A-Y's drinks license to 3am led him fighting an 'uphill battle'. In November 2023, Mr Joseph was forced to close G-A-Y Late, which held a license until 4am due to safety fears, and his moves to get it back he said, were blocked immediately. 'The Soho Society is the most damaging organisation to the hospitality industry,' he told MailOnline. 'As soon as you apply for a later license in Westminster, everyone objects. If you look at any way to improve your business whatsoever, they will slam the door in your face. 'Even the Mayor saying London is a 24-hour city is nonsense, there is no appetite for late venues. 'This is the worst I've seen the industry, and it's getting worse and worse'. Care homes are banned From clubs to care homes, cold-hearted locals have ignored the desperate plea for safe and loving homes for children in care and blocked the building of a new carehome. More than 100 residents blasted plans for a three-bedroom children's home in a semi-detached house because it will look like a 'prison' and kids will play loudly in the park. Bury Council's planning committee met in February to decide if Orchid Care Limited, a children's residential care business, could change the use of the property on Rudgwick Drive, Brandlesholme, so three children aged seven to 18 with no home can stay there. Neighbours said proposals to convert the property on a quiet residential street would be detrimental to others living in the area. One heartbroken local is planning to sell her 'forever home' if plans to change the use of the house are approved. The mother-of-one said: 'There are very few teenagers living on the street to make friends with so they will soon become bored. 'There is nothing for them to do in the area other than hang around the park. I'd hate for that to be a no-go area. 'If the plans are approved I am going to move. I am selling up. It will be heartbreaking because I thought this would be my forever home.' Another resident said they have worked hard and deserve to enjoy their retirement in peace. 'We have worked hard all our lives to pay to own our home in a lovely residential area,' they said. 'We want to enjoy our retirement in peace. 'We expected the house to be bought by a family so it was a bit of a shock to discover it was bought by a business. 'They have another care home not too far from here and we have been told there has been a lot of trouble with noise and anti-social behaviour. The police are having to go there regularly, which we find rather worrying and are concerned it could happen here. 'There is a little bit of NIMBY element to this but we are protective of our homes and lifestyles. 'However, we really do feel there are more suitable areas for a children's home. 'There is nothing for them to do around here. The town centre isn't really in walking distance and there aren't any other amenities to keep them entertained. 'I fear that if they become bored, that's when trouble may start. 'There is a park close by and it's nice to see families playing on there but if teenagers are hanging around they might be put off playing there. 'We are also concerned the staff employed won't be properly trained to care for the children.' Wedding bells silenced While wedding bells are often a cause for celebration but not for one royal couple. Instead of wishing the happy couples a long-lasting marriage King Charles joined the army of nuptial NIMBYs to block the creation of a wedding venue near Queen Camilla's home. The sale of a £3million house next to Camilla's Wiltshire country retreat created fears that it could become a rowdy wedding venue. Royal sources told the Mail last month that a proposal to sell The Old Mill next door and turn it into a wedding venue caused the Queen 'great anxiety', leading Charles to intervene at the eleventh hour to block the sale and buy the property with private funds. A source familiar with the plans said: 'Think of it – dozens of wedding guests carousing every weekend just the other side of her fence.' The King and Queen are far from being alone in their concerns over the raucous scenes that weddings can bring - even when they are being hosted at opulent stately homes. MailOnline has spoken to residents on the frontlines of the war between locals and wedding venues to find out just how bad it's become. Locals say Euridge Manor hosts two huge weddings each week - even though his application to hold the events has been at the centre of controversy. It retrospectively applied for planning permission to hold events in 2021, which the council denied. An enforcement notice was then served in August 2022, prompting an appeal by Euridge Manor. A second planning application was then made in September 2022 that also included plans for a new access road. It went over the statutory period for determination, leaving it undecided. That has now also been appealed alongside the enforcement notice. Euridge Manor say the matter has been the subject of a 10 day inquiry and a decision from an independent planning officer is likely within a couple of months. His fed-up neighbours, many of whom expressed their objections to his lucrative wedding business, are on tenterhooks as they too await the outcome of his barrister-led appeal. They have complained about the noise and obscene language emanating from the venue and the extra traffic the weddings generate along the narrow country lanes surrounding the property. One local told MailOnline this week it was 'like having a disco in the back garden'. Cyclists say they have been knocked off their bikes by wedding guests hurtling along the winding lanes nearby and horse riders complain the vehicles pass too close to their animals. One resident who lives on the opposite side of the valley to Euridge Manor said the noise from the weddings is 'intolerable'. She said: 'We have to listen to the speeches and all the swearing those speeches often contain. In one particular instance, a best man was giving his speech through the public address system on a microphone and shouted 'W****r, W****r, W****r' at the top of his voice. A lot of children live round here and they are being subjected to some awful language. 'They say they are putting on so-called society weddings, but they sound like an uncouth lot to me, if the swearing is anything to go by. 'Then, when the music starts up, it's like having a disco in the back garden. The noise carries across the valley and seems to amplify it. It's like the acoustic effect of an amphitheatre. 'This used to be such a lovely place to live but since he started up with his weddings, life around here has become a nightmare. Many locals are considering selling up and leaving the area if he wins his appeal. 'And if he loses his appeal, what about the people who've booked weddings there in the months ahead? They'll have to cancel their plans and find somewhere else. That would be very stressful.'
Independent Singapore
10 hours ago
- Health
- Independent Singapore
They told me to ignore it: Why our response to bullying is failing
SINGAPORE: When we think about bullying, the mind often jumps to name-calling, shoves in the hallway, or viral clips of schoolyard fights. However, in Singapore, the reality is more insidious—and far more damaging. Behind closed doors, on anonymous screens, and even in the silence of exclusion, thousands of students are grappling with a quiet epidemic, and it's leaving scars not just on the body but on the mind. According to a recent CNA Talking Point survey, nearly 30% of secondary school students in Singapore said they had been bullied, almost half of them within the last year. The official figures reported by the Ministry of Education (MOE) are much lower, averaging six reported cases per 1,000 students annually. This stark gap suggests a painful truth: many students are suffering in silence. The many faces of bullying Bullying today is not confined to physical aggression. Emotional and social bullying—like exclusion, rumour-spreading, or repeated verbal insults—is increasingly common. Even more chilling is the rise of cyberbullying, where the perpetrator may never show their face, but the damage is no less real. According to a Lancet Public Health paper released in May 2025, mental disorders are one of the leading causes of death among youths in Singapore. The rise of social media, academic pressure, and social isolation is driving young people to breaking points. Self-harm is the top cause of injury-related deaths among youth aged 20 to 24, and bullying, often the trigger for spirals of anxiety, depression, and low self-worth, is deeply entwined in this mental health crisis. One troubling finding is that many victims don't report bullying to teachers or school counsellors. A National Institute of Education report found that approximately 5% of bullied primary school students approached school staff first. The majority turned to friends or parents—if they told anyone at all. Why? Students fear retaliation, social exclusion, or being labelled as weak. Teachers, already stretched thin, may lack the time and support necessary to investigate thoroughly. The policy response—and its limits MOE states that anti-bullying efforts are embedded in the Character and Citizenship Education curriculum. Peer support networks, teacher training, and restorative practices are in place. Schools also partner with the police and mental health professionals. Yet, bullying persists, and the perception of certain critics is that interventions are often reactive, not proactive. What if the problem isn't just bullying, but the way we talk about it? In Singapore, official numbers suggest bullying is under control, but scratch the surface, and you'll find a different story. Many suffer in silence, not because the pain isn't real, but because they don't think anyone will do anything about it. So, the question is: What kind of culture have we created in our schools, in our homes, in our conversations? We're quick to introduce new policies, set up reporting channels, and hold assemblies, but what do these mean if the lived reality on the ground still makes children feel unsafe? Shouldn't we be asking: What would it take for a student to feel truly safe raising their hand and saying, 'This is happening to me'? What does support look like, not just for victims, but for the bullies themselves, many of whom carry pain of their own? Even at home, what messages are we sending? Asst Prof Cheung Hoi Shan from NIE points out that many parents still tell their children to 'just ignore it,' but what does that advice really do? Is it protection or dismissal? What if, instead of teaching kids to toughen up, we taught ourselves to listen better? What if we asked: 'What's been hard for you lately?' 'Who makes you feel small or left out?' 'What do you need from me right now?' Because maybe the solution isn't just stricter rules. Maybe it's not just more discipline or surveillance. Maybe it's a culture shift — one that begins with the courage to question how we've always done things, and the compassion to imagine doing them differently. Healing the Hidden Wounds The effects of bullying often linger long after the bruises fade. Without early intervention, they metastasise into adult trauma, toxic self-image, and lasting distrust, but it's not too late to act. To the teachers, parents, classmates, and policymakers, your awareness can be the difference between a child breaking down and a child breaking through. Because behind every statistic is a child, hoping someone will finally see what's been hurting them all along. If you or someone you know is struggling with bullying or mental distress, help is available: Institute of Mental Health's Helpline: 6389-2222 (24 hours) Samaritans of Singapore: 1-767 or 9151-1767 (CareText WhatsApp) Singapore Children's Society: for mental wellness resources
ABC News
21 hours ago
- Business
- ABC News
Lung Foundation Australia calls for tobacco sales ban at major supermarkets
Sarah Waters tried her first cigarette at 11-years-old, pinched from her dad's packet. By 13, she was smoking regularly, and within a few months, she was addicted. "When I started smoking, there was no information about the dangers," she said. "It was actually advertised in teenage magazines … all the movie stars, models had them. It was cool, it was prestigious." Ms Waters said she tried everything, but when cigarettes were so easy to get a hold of — in supermarkets, corner stores, service stations and at tobacconists — the temptation was hard to deny. It's this reason why the Lung Foundation is calling for a crackdown. The foundation wants the sale of cigarettes and tobacco products banned from major supermarkets. Lung Foundation Australia chief executive Mark Brooke said accessibility is one of the major reasons people continue to smoke. "By removing as many of those points of sale or limiting those points of sale, is a really important part of the solution. It's not the solution, but it's an important part of the solution," Mr Brooke said. Ms Waters said she backed any measure that could deter people from continuing to smoke or take it up. "If you are at the shops and they are there you can just say, 'It will be my last packet,'" she said. "If it is not there then I think it would be the extra barrier to help someone quit." Mr Brooke said smoking rates nationwide have decreased dramatically — only about 10 per cent of the population now smokes. But he said the time to clamp down was now, with an explosion in the number of venues selling cigarettes and tobacco products. "Some of those are operating illegally, but some of those also have licenses," he said. Researchers said the fear that restricting access to cigarettes could feed the booming illegal tobacco trade in Australia was "real" but would likely only affect those who were already suffering from addiction. "As a prevention tactic, I think it's a fantastic idea," Griffith University marketing research fellow James Durl said. In Queensland this month, health authorities seized illegal cigarettes and vapes with an estimated street value of about $20.8 million, in what it's calling its biggest raids in history. "It's only going to affect those people who were smoking for starters," Dr Durl said. "For those people who are smoking, and are desperately looking for a cigarette, and they have to go to a different place, I think as long as it's still legal and you're able to get it from say, a tobacconist specifically, [people won't necessarily turn to illegal operators]." Dr Durl said restricting access is just a small step in the decades-long fight to stamp out tobacco use. "This isn't talking about a ban — they're not becoming illegal," he said. "[This idea is] just trying to put a delay, a buffer, between the urge to have a smoke and the actual purchasing of a smoke." Federal Health Minister Mark Butler said the government passed laws in 2023 to "reignite the fight" against tobacco. "Under the Tobacco Act, a range of new graphic health warnings, health promotion inserts, and on-product health messages have been developed. "They have been informed by research and improved during rounds of market testing with smokers, to ensure they are effective, have impact and maximise engagement." Mr Butler did not comment on whether his government would support banning major supermarkets from selling cigarettes In a statement, Coles said it complied with all legislation around minimising the health impacts of tobacco use, "however we recognise the need to provide choice to those customers who wish to purchase these products legally". Woolworths was contacted for comment but did not reply by deadline. After 27 years of attempts, Sarah Waters finally found her reason to quit. Like many, it was her health that was the final straw. "I couldn't enjoy life, like every time I laughed, I'd go into a coughing fit. It became anti-social, and it got really expensive as well," she said. It's been 11 years since her last cigarette. Now she spends the money she saves on them on overseas holidays. Her advice to those wanting to quit is not to give up. "I tried patches, I tried gum, I tried hypnosis, I tried several different types of medication, I tried cold turkey, I tried fad exercise diets, and I finally found the thing that worked for me which was a medication prescribed from the doctor," Ms Waters said.
