In Can We Overcome the Stigma Around Mental Health?, host Radzi Chinyanganya highlights initiatives aimed at addressing mental health in schools in Nigeria and New Zealand. These countries have made strides in encouraging open conversations about mental health, a topic that has historically been stigmatized in both regions. In Nigeria, mental health issues were often overlooked or suppressed, and in New Zealand, a high youth suicide rate prompted the need for action. This video is excerpted from BBC’s My World, a program created for teenagers eager to learn more about the important stories shaping our world.
A 7-year-old's biggest worry might not be who's hogging the crayons. A survey in Wales (one of the four nations that make up the United Kingdom) suggests that anxiety, concerns about appearance, trouble sleeping, bullying, and problematic phone use affect children as young as 7.
The School Health Research Network — a Wales-based research initiative that regularly surveys students on health and wellbeing — polled more than 50,000 students at over 500 primary schools (the UK term for elementary schools, covering roughly ages 4 to 11) about their physical and mental health. The results were sobering: one in seven kids ages 7 to 11 struggled with emotional issues severe enough that they might need professional support, and a third of kids reported regularly feeling worried, sad, or upset.
The survey also found that 70% regularly had trouble sleeping, half had experienced bullying, and fewer than half ate fruit or vegetables every day.
This isn't just a UK trend. CDC data shows that among U.S. children ages 3 to 17, about 7% currently have anxiety problems, and U.S. health officials now recommend that children ages 8 and up be screened for anxiety — a sign that early childhood anxiety is being taken seriously on both sides of the Atlantic. These findings aren't just numbers — schools are using them to identify where students need more support, whether that's mental health resources, anti-bullying programs, or something as simple as better sleep habits.
In Virginia Woolf, the Activist host Lily Cole explores the revolutionary impact Woolf had on society in the early 20th Century. Woolf challenged gender stereotypes and the expectations placed on women. She was an unconventional figure whose work, including the novel Orlando, explored themes of gender, sexuality, and identity. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Icons: The Greatest Person of the 20th Century, a documentary series celebrating the achievements of the most influential figures of the era.
In Virginia Woolf, the Writer, host Lily Cole introduces Virginia Woolf, a revolutionary writer of her time. Woolf, who suffered abuse in her childhood and faced regular hospitalization for depression, is discussed in the context of her novel Mrs. Dalloway. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Icons: The Greatest Person of the 20th Century, a documentary series celebrating the achievements of the most influential figures of the era.
The article "A Healthy Diet Could Reduce the Symptoms of Depression" from BBC's Science Focus explains that dietary changes can reduce depression symptoms in just three weeks. A study in Australia found that young adults who switched to a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, fish, and lean meats showed significant improvement in mood compared with those who continued eating processed foods.
The article "Confronting Trauma With Virtual Reality Therapy" from BBC's Science Focus is about how virtual reality (VR) is being used to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in returning service personnel.
Learn about companies that are providing dedicated time for regular workouts to their employees. Incorporating movement into their day is good for both physical and mental health, and it reduces stress levels and work absence. This video is excerpted from BBC News.
Football, rugby… esports? At Countesthorpe Academy, a secondary school in the UK, students can step into a full esports arena packed with high-end gaming computers — but it’s about a lot more than just playing games.
The school is one of the first to offer an esports qualification, helping students explore how the gaming industry really works and what kinds of careers exist behind the screens.
Esports might feel like entertainment, but it’s also a fast-growing global industry. In fact, the video game industry is now worth several times more than both the music and movie industries combined.
Students studying esports look at everything from how games make money and the strategies players use, to teamwork, mental health, and building skills like focus and resilience — skills that matter in gaming and way beyond it.
The article "Why We Sleep: How Rest Helps Our Body and Brain" from BBC's Science Focus explains why sleep is essential for our physical and mental well-being. It explores sleep stages, how much rest we need, what dreams might mean, and why sleep evolved.
In Can We Overcome the Stigma Around Mental Health?, host Radzi Chinyanganya highlights initiatives aimed at addressing mental health in schools in Nigeria and New Zealand. These countries have made strides in encouraging open conversations about mental health, a topic that has historically been stigmatized in both regions. In Nigeria, mental health issues were often overlooked or suppressed, and in New Zealand, a high youth suicide rate prompted the need for action. This video is excerpted from BBC’s My World, a program created for teenagers eager to learn more about the important stories shaping our world.
A 7-year-old's biggest worry might not be who's hogging the crayons. A survey in Wales (one of the four nations that make up the United Kingdom) suggests that anxiety, concerns about appearance, trouble sleeping, bullying, and problematic phone use affect children as young as 7.
The School Health Research Network — a Wales-based research initiative that regularly surveys students on health and wellbeing — polled more than 50,000 students at over 500 primary schools (the UK term for elementary schools, covering roughly ages 4 to 11) about their physical and mental health. The results were sobering: one in seven kids ages 7 to 11 struggled with emotional issues severe enough that they might need professional support, and a third of kids reported regularly feeling worried, sad, or upset.
The survey also found that 70% regularly had trouble sleeping, half had experienced bullying, and fewer than half ate fruit or vegetables every day.
This isn't just a UK trend. CDC data shows that among U.S. children ages 3 to 17, about 7% currently have anxiety problems, and U.S. health officials now recommend that children ages 8 and up be screened for anxiety — a sign that early childhood anxiety is being taken seriously on both sides of the Atlantic. These findings aren't just numbers — schools are using them to identify where students need more support, whether that's mental health resources, anti-bullying programs, or something as simple as better sleep habits.
In Virginia Woolf, the Activist host Lily Cole explores the revolutionary impact Woolf had on society in the early 20th Century. Woolf challenged gender stereotypes and the expectations placed on women. She was an unconventional figure whose work, including the novel Orlando, explored themes of gender, sexuality, and identity. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Icons: The Greatest Person of the 20th Century, a documentary series celebrating the achievements of the most influential figures of the era.
In Virginia Woolf, the Writer, host Lily Cole introduces Virginia Woolf, a revolutionary writer of her time. Woolf, who suffered abuse in her childhood and faced regular hospitalization for depression, is discussed in the context of her novel Mrs. Dalloway. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Icons: The Greatest Person of the 20th Century, a documentary series celebrating the achievements of the most influential figures of the era.
The article "A Healthy Diet Could Reduce the Symptoms of Depression" from BBC's Science Focus explains that dietary changes can reduce depression symptoms in just three weeks. A study in Australia found that young adults who switched to a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, fish, and lean meats showed significant improvement in mood compared with those who continued eating processed foods.
The article "Confronting Trauma With Virtual Reality Therapy" from BBC's Science Focus is about how virtual reality (VR) is being used to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in returning service personnel.
Learn about companies that are providing dedicated time for regular workouts to their employees. Incorporating movement into their day is good for both physical and mental health, and it reduces stress levels and work absence. This video is excerpted from BBC News.
Football, rugby… esports? At Countesthorpe Academy, a secondary school in the UK, students can step into a full esports arena packed with high-end gaming computers — but it’s about a lot more than just playing games.
The school is one of the first to offer an esports qualification, helping students explore how the gaming industry really works and what kinds of careers exist behind the screens.
Esports might feel like entertainment, but it’s also a fast-growing global industry. In fact, the video game industry is now worth several times more than both the music and movie industries combined.
Students studying esports look at everything from how games make money and the strategies players use, to teamwork, mental health, and building skills like focus and resilience — skills that matter in gaming and way beyond it.
The article "Why We Sleep: How Rest Helps Our Body and Brain" from BBC's Science Focus explains why sleep is essential for our physical and mental well-being. It explores sleep stages, how much rest we need, what dreams might mean, and why sleep evolved.