16 articles from SUNDAY 22.5.2022

Cleo’s world was darkened by depression. Reconnecting brought back some colour | Gill Straker and Jacqui Winship

The very act of talking about it in a supportive environment can provide some comfort for many who are depressedThe modern mind is a column where experts discuss mental health issues they are seeing in their workGet our weekend culture and lifestyle email and listen to our podcastOn the face of it, there seemed little to explain the misery Cleo* was exuding. Nevertheless, it was clearly...

‘Phones are like a scab we know we shouldn’t pick’: the truth about social media and anxiety

Although connecting with friends online has positive benefits for mental health, overdoing screen time can lead to a catastrophic emotional crashMost people think that phones are a bad thing for anxiety. Parents, in particular, believe phones are terrible for the mental health of children, teenagers and young adults. So, what is the truth? While I was writing my book You Don’t Understand Me,...

More monkeypox cases detected in UK ‘on daily basis’, says scientist

Twenty cases confirmed in UK amid reports of child being admitted to intensive care in London hospitalMore monkeypox cases are being detected in Britain “on a daily basis”, a senior doctor has warned, amid reports that a child has been admitted to intensive care with the disease.Dr Susan Hopkins, a chief medical adviser to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), said an update on confirmed...

What are the key climate themes at Davos?

While the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia's war in Ukraine will be focuses of the World Economic Forum's gathering of business and government leaders, so too will climate change. It's captured the world's attention in unignorable and devastating ways.

What, if any, are the evolutionary purpose of toenails?

The long-running series in which readers answer other readers’ questions on subjects ranging from trivial flights of fancy to profound scientific and philosophical conceptsWhat, if any, are the evolutionary purpose of toenails?Gerard MarksPost your answers (and new questions) below or send them to nq@theguardian.com. A selection will be published next Sunday. Continue...

‘My life was ruled by panic attacks’

Author Tim Clare spend a year learning how to tackle the problem. This is his seven-point guide to what worked for himI’m pinned to the floor, screaming. From two rooms away comes the sound of nursery rhymes, playing at full volume – my wife’s attempt to drown me out, so I don’t frighten our baby daughter. I’m having a panic attack. I am terrified and, beneath the fear, burning with...

Does turmeric’s reputation translate into real health benefits?

Clinical trials show that curcumin, present in the spice, may help fight osteoarthritis and other diseases, but there’s a catch – bioavailability, or how to get it into the bloodWhile Kamal Patel was probing through the reams of user data on examine.com – a website that calls itself “the internet’s largest database of nutrition and supplement research” – before a planned revamp...