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UK Ranks Lowest in Children’s Well-Being in Europe Amid Growing Concerns Over Life Satisfaction

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A new report has revealed that the UK ranks lowest in children’s well-being among European nations, highlighting an alarming decline in life satisfaction among its youth. The findings, published in the 2024 Good Childhood Report by The Children’s Society, underline a range of socio-economic and mental health challenges contributing to this trend.

Key Findings from the Report

The report shows that 25.2% of children in the UK reported low life satisfaction, the highest percentage in Europe. This contrasts sharply with the Netherlands, where only 6.7% of 15-year-olds expressed dissatisfaction with their lives. Other high-ranking countries for youth well-being include Finland (10.8%) and Denmark (11.3%).

In comparison, Poland (24.4%) and Malta (23.6%) were among the other nations with significant levels of dissatisfaction. On average, 16.6% of young people across Europe are dissatisfied with their lives, equivalent to about one in six.

Contributing Factors

Jack O’Neill, Policy and Public Affairs Manager at The Children’s Society, attributed the UK’s low ranking to several factors, including socio-economic inequality and the cost-of-living crisis. “The UK also showed the largest gap in life satisfaction between advantaged and disadvantaged youth,” O’Neill said, emphasizing how this inequality impacts children’s well-being.

The report also highlighted food insecurity, with 11% of UK children aged 15 skipping meals due to financial constraints. Families in the UK are increasingly unable to afford holidays, extracurricular activities, or special celebrations, with 41% citing financial barriers.

Mental Health and Education Challenges

Mental health support for children in the UK remains inadequate, with over 270,000 young people waiting for assistance after an initial referral. School-related stress, including exam pressures, bullying, and a lack of safety and belonging, further exacerbates the issue. The UK had the second-highest rate of bullying in Europe, and 14.3% of young people expressed dissatisfaction with their school experience.

“School should be an opportunity for young people to create lifelong memories, make friends, and find inspiration, but for many, this isn’t the case,” O’Neill stated.

Broader European Trends

While the UK stands out, declining well-being among young people is a Europe-wide issue. UNICEF data indicates that life satisfaction among 15-year-olds dropped from 74% in 2018 to 69% in 2022 across 23 European nations. Poverty remains a significant factor, affecting one in four children in the EU.

Calls for Action

Experts, including O’Neill, stress the need for government intervention. Proposed measures include early mental health support, school reforms to reduce bullying, and legislation to tackle child poverty. “We must ensure that no family lacks basic necessities and that children’s voices are heard,” O’Neill urged.

As Europe grapples with these challenges, policymakers face growing pressure to address the root causes of declining youth well-being and provide a brighter future for the next generation.

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Switzerland Reports First Case of Contagious New Mpox Strain as Outbreak Spreads Across Europe

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Switzerland has confirmed its first case of a new, highly contagious strain of mpox, marking the latest European country to report an infection of the virus. The case, detected in a person who had recently traveled to Uganda, follows a rise in mpox infections in Central Africa, where the strain emerged in 2023.

The strain, known as clade Ib, has been responsible for thousands of infections in Central Africa, particularly in countries like Burundi and Uganda. This variant is believed to cause more severe illness, with a higher risk of death, especially among children. Health experts are also concerned that it spreads more easily than previous strains.

Mpox, a viral disease that can cause fever, headache, swollen lymph nodes, and a characteristic rash, spreads primarily through close skin-to-skin contact. In addition to the Central African region, the new strain has been detected in several countries outside of Africa, including the United States, Canada, Brazil, China, and parts of Europe.

Switzerland’s public health agency reported that the infected individual was in isolation, and no further risk to the public has been identified. However, the agency advised anyone with symptoms to seek medical advice immediately. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) confirmed the infection as part of a broader trend of rising cases in Europe linked to travel from regions experiencing active outbreaks.

The United Kingdom has also seen a number of clade Ib cases, with the most recent infection reported in April. Notably, this case was not linked to recent travel, suggesting possible local transmission. The UK Health Security Agency confirmed that no further cases were found among close contacts, and the public risk remains low. The UK has prepared for the possibility of more cases by acquiring over 150,000 doses of the mpox vaccine.

Germany has reported eight cases of the new strain, with the most recent occurring in February. Belgium and France have seen smaller numbers of cases, with infections linked to travel from Central Africa. Sweden, the first European country to report a case in 2024, remains the only nation with a confirmed infection tied to the new strain.

The World Health Organization declared a global public health emergency in August 2024, urging European health authorities to prepare for potential cases. While the risk to the general public remains low, health officials continue to monitor the situation closely, urging travelers to avoid areas with ongoing outbreaks and to seek medical advice if they develop symptoms.

As the outbreak spreads, the situation highlights the challenges of containing contagious diseases across borders, especially as global travel continues to increase.

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Study Reveals Surprising Global Patterns in Loneliness Among Older Adults

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A major international study has uncovered significant differences in how loneliness affects older adults and those in midlife, depending on where they live. The findings challenge long-held assumptions that loneliness primarily affects the very old and very young, suggesting instead that geography, social systems, and life circumstances play key roles.

Researchers analyzed data from more than 64,000 people aged 50 to 90 across 29 countries, mostly in Europe, using a standardized loneliness scale that asked how often participants felt isolated, lacked companionship, or were left out.

The study, published in Aging & Mental Health, found that people generally become lonelier as they age. However, the extent of that loneliness varied significantly by country. In Bulgaria and Latvia, for example, older adults reported some of the steepest increases in loneliness with age, while countries like Denmark, Switzerland, and Austria reported the lowest loneliness levels overall.

Conversely, in the United States, the most pronounced loneliness was found not among the elderly but among people in midlife—making it the only country in the study where that was the case. A similar trend appeared in the Netherlands, though researchers noted data limitations there.

The study identified key factors linked to loneliness across all age groups, including unemployment, poor health, depression, and being unmarried. However, the impact of these factors varied between countries. In the U.S., for instance, being out of work in midlife was especially tied to feelings of isolation.

“Loneliness is not just a late-life issue,” said Esteban Calvo, senior author of the study and dean at Universidad Mayor in Chile. “Our findings suggest it’s influenced by a range of societal and personal factors, not just age.”

Experts say the study underscores the need for tailored, culturally sensitive approaches to addressing loneliness. “A one-size-fits-all approach will not solve this worldwide problem,” Calvo added.

The study did have limitations. Data were collected before the COVID-19 pandemic, and low response rates in some countries may affect how representative the results are. It also did not fully distinguish between different life circumstances—such as whether someone was widowed or had never married—making some findings harder to interpret.

Still, researchers say the implications are important. “Loneliness is a bit like hunger,” said Caterina Mauri, a senior researcher at the Free University of Brussels, who was not involved in the study. “It’s a signal to seek more connections, and when ignored, it can lead to serious mental and physical health consequences.”

With loneliness increasingly recognized as a global health concern, experts say more attention must be paid—not just to the elderly, but to people of all ages facing social disconnection.

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Tuberculosis Cases Surge in England as Health Officials Sound Alarm Over Resurgence

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England has reported a concerning 13% increase in tuberculosis (TB) cases over the past year, marking the second consecutive annual rise and the largest jump since at least 1971. The resurgence, which affects both immigrants and people born in the UK, has prompted renewed calls for better public health strategies and improved awareness of the disease.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirmed 5,480 TB cases were recorded in England last year, following an 11% increase in 2022. Once thought of as a disease of the past, TB is re-emerging as a public health threat. Experts warn the spike is likely linked to disruptions in healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic, alongside worsening social conditions such as overcrowding, homelessness, and undernutrition.

Anja Madhvani, a 35-year-old event manager from Leeds, is among those who were unexpectedly struck by the disease. While running an ultramarathon in Morocco in 2018, Madhvani became severely ill—feverish, coughing up blood, and hallucinating in the desert. Initially misdiagnosed upon returning to the UK, she was eventually found to have TB and spent nearly a year recovering through intensive treatment.

“I had been walking around with this deadly thing inside of me and had no idea,” Madhvani told Euronews Health, adding that some effects still linger. She unknowingly transmitted the disease to close contacts, including her mother, who continues to suffer health consequences years later.

TB remains the world’s deadliest infectious disease, claiming an estimated 1.25 million lives in 2023. While most prevalent in Southeast Asia and Africa, its resurgence in wealthy nations like the UK is viewed by experts as a warning sign of deeper societal issues.

“Because TB is the archetypal disease of poverty, it’s a sentinel for other conditions,” said Dr. Tom Wingfield of the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.

The increase has triggered a government review of its five-year TB action plan, with health officials looking to enhance early detection, improve treatment adherence, and increase screening, especially among new immigrants. However, advocates warn that funding gaps and limited mental health support for patients remain major barriers.

Despite the rise, most TB cases in the UK are not drug-resistant, meaning they are still treatable with timely medical intervention. But early diagnosis is crucial—not only to protect patients but to prevent the spread of the disease.

“I don’t think people understand what TB will do to you if you don’t get it sorted,” Madhvani said. “It doesn’t matter how wealthy you are—if you come into contact with it, you’re at risk.”

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