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World news: Hospitals in Norway overwhelmed with Covid-19 patients

Hospitals in Norway have had to cancel and postpone surgeries due to a spike in coronavirus cases.

Earlier this month the Prime Minister of Norway Erna Solberg announced a new national lockdown after it was confirmed that the country is facing a third wave of Covid-19 infections.

Bent Høie, the Minister of Health and Care Services, announced that Norway is now facing a third wave of the mutated and more contagious variant of the virus.

He said: “We have seen it happening in many countries in Europe, and we know how tough the third wave can be.”

Hospitals all over the country are closing operating theatres and postponing surgical operations that leads to patients taking up beds after surgery, due to the overwhelming number of Covid-19 patients needing intensive care.

Four patients and five employees tested positive after a virus outbreak at Lovisenberg Diaconal Hospital, resulting in at least 70 other employees having too self-isolate.

The outbreak happened shortly after it was reported that Norway is experiencing a spike in Covid-19 cases.

Lilly Forsberg, 20, is one of many patients who have had their surgeries postponed due to the corona virus outbreak.

Her surgery was scheduled on March 18 at Lovisenberg Diaconal Hospital, but on the day before her surgery she was informed that it had to be postponed.

Even though she understands why her surgery had to be postponed, she admits that she is disappointed.

She said: “It is a bit of a sticky situation because I have walked around and mentally prepared myself for several months, and I don’t receive a message until the day before the surgery that it had to be postponed.”

Hallvard Fanebust, Clinical Chief at Lovisenberg Diaconal Hospital, said that this is the largest outbreak of infection that they have had at the hospital.

Miss Forsberg is worried that she has to wait a long time before she will be able to have the surgery.

She said: “I have a knee injury that needs surgical treatment. It’s something that affects me every day and a problem I’ve had for many years.”

According to the Norwegian Directorate of Health several hospitals are experiencing staff shortages and outbreaks of the virus among patients and employees.

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World news: Norwegians suffer with loneliness as pandemic affects mental health

People from Norway have revealed their struggles with loneliness and how the past year has affected their mental health.

A survey from December last year by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health revealed a high number of people struggling with loneliness and mental health.

The ones suffering the most are those living alone and the younger generation, and one in three students revealed that they are lonely.

Mathilde Johnsen, 20, admits that the past year has been really hard. She is a first-year student at Kristiania University College and says that studying online has been tough and she has struggled to get to know her course mates.

She said: “This past year has been really lonely, but at the same time filled with so much love. I have realised who my real friends are, and I have learned so much about myself.”

Anne Reneflot, Department Director at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, said that it is too soon to determine how the publics mental health has developed since the beginning of the pandemic.

She added: “But existing findings from Norway suggests that the elderly’s and young people’s mental health have worsened somewhat during the pandemic, both when studying mental health problems and satisfaction with life.”

For Eva Holm, 79, the past year has been “incredibly hard”.

She said: “I live alone so even before the pandemic I felt lonely at times, but the past year has been even harder. Everything is different now.”

She revealed that the pandemic has definitely affected her mental health.

She explains: “Some days have been harder than others. The constant feeling of being lonely can definitely have an affect your mental health.

“There are some days where I have been so tired that I haven’t been able to get out of bed. I just lay there for several hours.”

Before the pandemic she and her friend group would meet several times a week. It’s been over a year since they last met.

She added: “I’m too old to have a job. But in times like these I wished that I had one or lived with someone.

“I have never watched as much TV as I have this past year. And I don’t really like television”.

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Sheffield students unable to access university building following Rent Strike protest

Students at University of Sheffield have been unable to use the Arts Tower building since last week because of the Rent Strike protest.

Last week, Rent Strike protesters occupied the Arts Tower and are continuing to do so until their demands regarding rent reduction, a no-penalty early release clause from tenancy contracts, rent to be refunded to all students etc. are met.

In a post published on Instagram by @rentstrikeuos, protesters revealed their occupation plans whilst also apologising to architecture students. A couple of days later they put out a tweet apologising again.

The tweet said: “We are not here to disrupt students and profoundly apologise to those who have been affected.”

Olly Gabriele, 18, is an architecture student and usually has a lecture in the Arts Tower once a week. But last week he and his coursemates received an email saying that the building was closed due to the occupation.

He said: “I’m not really annoyed by it, but a lot of my coursemates usually study there, and I know that some of them are quite annoyed that they’re not able to go there at the moment because of the protests.”

According to Mr Gabriele and the students protesting, it is the University Security who are refusing to let students and staff inside the building.

Alice Jaanus, 19 and a first-year architecture student, says that she has been going to the Arts Tower every week for the past two months. Because of the protest she hasn’t been able to go which she says is “disappointing”.

She said: “It has been a good opportunity to meet my course mates and tutors in order to express opinions and gain valuable feedback on my work.”

Ms Jaanus says that she has neither negative nor positive feelings towards the strikers, but she says that it is great to see students express their opinions and stand up for themselves.

She added: “What they are doing is definitely inspiring and lately I’ve felt that I should be more active as well.”

She adds that students can still use some of the facilities that can’t be found elsewhere or go there to collect their stuff, although she understands why some students might be scared to do that.

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Illegal immigrant seeking work in the UK to pay off £25,000 debt to support paralysed mother jailed following drug raid at former Sheffield pub

An illegal immigrant from Albania has been jailed for his role in a cannabis harvest to pay off €25,000 debt and help his paralysed mother.

Sheffield Crown Court heard Klajdi Bica, 21, was arrested on February 22 after a police raid of the unused pub “Sheffield Arms” on Upwell Street, in Brightside. 

Prosecutor Louise Gallagher said the police found 176 cannabis plants worth £96,800 when they forced themselves through two steel gates and a door, as well as Bica who was hiding in a shower room. 

Mrs Gallagher continued: “The production would have continued if the defendant had not been caught.”

The court heard that Bica, an Albanian national, entered the UK illegally in a lorry from Belgium and came to Sheffield seeking work other than in the building industry. 

His defence lawyer Eran Reilly claimed Bica had come to the UK to help his paralysed mother and to pay off a €25,000 debt to people who had been threatening him and his family. 

Mr Reilly said the defendant was approached by a Romanian man who offered him a job to “water plants as a gardener” for “a big operation''. 

Mr Reilly added: “His main purpose was to come here to earn money to help his mother who has been paralysed since 2014.

“He did not understand the gravity of the situation.”

Bica, of Upwell Street, Sheffield, has no previous convictions and pleaded guilty to producing the class B drug cannabis. 

Judge Andrew Smith told the defendant: “You are a good character and that stands to your credit.

“Your mother and family are in perilous circumstances in Albania, and you wanted to help.”

The defendant was told that the payment would be discussed once the batch had been harvested. 

Judge Smith added: “But the involvement of people like yourself performing limited functions under the direction allows large profits to be made by criminals higher up the chain.

“These profits are often invested in other criminal activities which often pose dangers to those living nearby.”

Judge Smith sentenced Bica to 58 weeks imprisonment, which equals nearly 13 months and a half. 

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Arsonist jailed after setting fire to a petrol station in Rotherham following a row with the cashier

A man told police his «mind was on vacation” when he set fire to a petrol station in Rotherham following a heated argument with the cashier.

Scott Dearing from Orchard Flatts Crescents in Rotherham went to the petrol station in Masbrough Street on November 12 at 2.45 am.

Sheffield Crown Court heard that the 36-year-old defendant filled up a petrol can and paid, before transferring petrol to another can whilst spilling it on the forecourt.

Dearing was informed by the cashier he could not use that container and the pump was turned off. The defendant then proceeded to pour petrol on the floor, door, and through the mailbox.

Prosecutor Neil Coxon said:” He was making a sign with his fingers across his throat and was clearly in an agitated state.”

Defence lawyer Edward Moss said Dearing did not use the gesture to threaten the cashier but to tell him the pump was not working.

The defendant proceeded to set a fire on the forecourt before putting it out with sand from a sandbox and waiting for the police to arrive.

The prosecutor said: “He said, “I don’t know what I was doing. My mind was on vacation and then I went to put it out.”

Dearing was found in possession of a flick knife, handcuffs with keys, and a balaclava when arrested.

Mr. Moss said: “He stayed when he could have left

“He has completely overreacted and now has to pay for the consequences. But you have to see it in context.”

Dearing pleaded guilty in December last year to arson. He had 32 previous convictions for 101 offences, including 35 for dishonesty offences and four related to weapons.

Judge Megan Rhys told Dearing he did not know whether the petrol station was going to explode or not.

Judge Rhys added: “The cashier must have been terrified of being locked in that shop on his own.”

Dearing was jailed for three years and nine months, with a consecutive 146 days for possession of the knife.

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Drug gang member on the UK’s Most Wanted list jailed after three years on the run

A drug gang member who fled the UK to avoid facing trial has been jailed after he was added on the UK’s Most Wanted list.

Joshua Hendry, 31, of Walton in Liverpool, was jailed today for absconding and supplying class A drugs to Grimsby, accompanied by a group of 12 people including his mother, Leslie Aytoun, and brother, Scott Hendry. 

Prosecutor Rupert Doswell told Sheffield Crown Court that Hendry was charged in March 2019 in connection with a drug chain that saw £1.38 million of heroin and cocaine transported from Liverpool to Grimsby between September 2017 and March 2019. 

Mr Doswell added: “Phone analysis showed Hendry in a higher position in the drugs chain than his mother and brother.”

According to Mr Doswell, Hendry fled to Spain before his trial in March 2019. In his absence, he was sentenced to ten years in prison for distributing drugs in the Grimsby case. 

He claimed Hendry was arrested while walking his dog in Marbella on January 20 this year, just 24 hours after the National Crime Agency issued an appeal for the UK's Most Wanted Criminals.

In March of this year, Hendry pled guilty to fleeing and distributing cocaine and heroin. 

The defendant is expecting a child with his partner in Spain, according to defense lawyer Callum Ross. 

Mr Ross said: “He knew that at some point he would be apprehended. 

“He knows he only has himself to blame, and that he is going to miss a significant period of their childhood.”

Judge Roger Thomas called the conspiracy “a massive criminal enterprise” and told Hendry he was “greatly irresponsible for bringing a child into the world knowing he would be going to custody for a long time.”

Judge Thomas added: "You were the one at the heart of this and perhaps the one who thought of it in the first place and began its operation.

"You knew full well when you fled you were getting out of the way.”

In addition to the 10-year sentence he was given in 2020, Judge Thomas imprisoned Hendry for a further five years and three months. 

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New Sheffield centre named after late “inspirational” genetic technologist to help diagnose blood cancer

A new cancer pre-screening facility has been officially opened at the University of Sheffield in collaboration with the Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust. 

The Julia Garnham Centre, named after a former genetic technologist, aims to speed up the time it takes to report cancer results. 

The centre in collaboration commemorates Julia Garnham, who worked for the Genetics Department at the Sheffield Children’s Hospital for over 30 years. 

Dr Adam Hodgson, academic lead of the Julia Garnham Centre at the University of Sheffield, said: “We named the centre after Julia to inspire our students with her story and to celebrate her wonderful and important contribution to healthcare in our region.”

The new genomic pre-screening facility is based in the University of Sheffield’s Firth Court. It is a new remote NHS work placement facility that provides students with experience and training in genetic analysis during their degrees.

In 2018, Julia Garnham was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and passed away the same year. She helped to diagnose many genetic diseases, including many cancers.

Dr Polly Talley, who works in Haemato oncology at North East and Yorkshire Genomic Laboratory Hub, described Julia as a “wonderful” friend and a colleague who “took enormous pride in her work and was known for completing everything to the very highest of quality.”

She continued: “She was responsible for training large numbers of staff and students at the Genetics Department. She did this with great skill, inspiring students with her enthusiasm, technical ability, understanding and passion for quality.

“The centre has been named after her in recognition of her wonderful work, but also because the centre aims to inspire future students with the same skill and passion that Julia had.”

The training helps students to prepare anonymised cancer cases, preparing them for NHS geneticists in Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust to analyse, speeding up the time it takes to report these types of cancer results.

Dr Hodgson added: “Together they are able to have a positive impact on the world around them during their degree.”

He further explained the centre creates a space for students, academics from the School of Biosciences at the University of Sheffield, and NHS geneticists to work together.

The centre was established following 8 years of close collaboration between Dr Hodgson and Duncan Baker, lead Clinical Scientist at Sheffield Diagnostic Genetics Service.

The facility received seed funding from the University of Sheffield Faculty of Science.

Link to the published article.

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Crucible Theatre hailed as “home of snooker” ahead of the forthcoming World Senior Snooker Championship in Sheffield

The city associated with steel and snooker is once again set to host the tournament at the iconic venue next week.

This year’s tournament will begin on  4 May 2022 until 8 May.  Players from America, Canada, and Egypt join the European field, including World Champions and World Senior Champions Stephen Hendry, Joe Johnson, and Jimmy White.

The chief editor of SnookerHQ, an independent online news source of the sport, said fans will get the opportunity to watch some of the stars of yesteryear in action again.

David Caulfield added: “The glory days for these players on the professional circuit are long gone, but the competitive spirit remains as alive as ever. 

“Loyal supporters still enjoy getting this opportunity to support some of their old favourites once more.”

A mix of 24 current, ex-professional and amateur players will meet in knockout rounds. They have qualified automatically through previous achievements in the sport or reached the venue stages via qualifying tournaments.

The World Snooker Championship has been held at the venue every year since 1977, and the Senior tournament has been held there since 2019. The defending champion is David Lilley.

Mr Caulfield continued: “Most snooker players have aspirations of playing in Sheffield at the Crucible. 

“The World Seniors Snooker Tour has often carried the tagline ‘Dare to Dream’, because it offers amateur players over the age of 40 the opportunity to compete and potentially qualify to play in Sheffield.”

Jason Francis, Chairman of World Senior Snooker, said much of the history of the sport was created in the Crucible Theatre and the tournaments have a big commercial value to the city.

He continued: “It’s a global event that puts the focus on Sheffield for these 3 weeks. So many people globally associate the city with not only steel but snooker.

“I’m very excited knowing on the evening of May 8th someone will write their name into the sports history by becoming a world champion in the Crucible Theatre.”

Neil Smyth, Director of WAYS Facilities Management Ltd, the main sponsor of the event, described himself as a “huge snooker fan”.

He said: “I jumped at the opportunity to become involved with the Seniors World Championship given the fact it’s held at the home of snooker, the iconic Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.”

Link to the published article.

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Track and Field Championship set to take place in Sheffield after long break due COVID-19

The England Athletics U15, U17 and U20 are travelling to the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield to compete in the Indoor Championship this weekend.

An England Athletics spokesperson said they are anticipating that approximately 800 athletes will compete in the event. For young athletes to be able to compete they must achieve the Age-Group standards set out by the association.

The Championship is taking place in Sheffield because of the EIS Sheffield´s excellent indoor facility and spectator access. 

PR and Communications manager, James Woods, said that England Athletics are “delighted” that competitive opportunities have been able to safely return after a long break due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said: “We’ve seen a gradual return of competition since last year and this has been vital as the sport recovers from what has been a challenging period for all involved, including the athletes, coaches, volunteers, officials, clubs, and competition providers.

“An event such as this is important in retaining and growing the number of young people engaged in track and field across England.”

He added given the age-group of this competition some of the leading older athletes in action will focus more on looking to lay the groundwork for tilts at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Columbia this summer.

Mr Woods said: “Meanwhile, the younger athletes are experiencing their first opportunity at a national championship, and this could be our first chance to see the stars of the future shine on a big stage.”

The England Athletics are preparing for the 2022 Commonwealth Games that will be taking place in Birmingham later this year. 

He said: “It will be an inspirational event for the sport and through the England Athletics “Journey to 2022” campaign we’ll be celebrating the excitement of England’s hosting of a global multi-sport event”.

This will be the first time in a decade England has hosted the 2022 Commonwealth Games since the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics.

Link to the published article

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Sheffield United seal their fourth straight win after beating West Bromwich Albion 2-0

Sheffield United welcomed Steve Bruce’s West Bromwich Albion to Bramall Lane for a late kick-off in the Championship yesterday.

Sheffield United have won three of their last five games, West Brom on the other hand have dropped a total of 11 points in their five last games.

Manager Paul Heckingbottom made four changes to his team, starting Baldock, McGoldrick, Robinson and Hourihane and dropping Fleck, Berge and Norrington-Davies to the bench. Davies missed out.

In his first match as manager, Steve Bruce also made five changes to his side after their 0-2 defeat against Preston. 

Prior to kick-off, former Sheffield United Mark Duffy, known as the “Bounce Slayer”, was brought out on the pitch in front of 26,541 supporters and received a great reception from the home fans, whilst a clip of his goal in the derby at Hillsborough was shown on the big screen.

It was West Brom who made the stronger start but against the run of play Sheffield United captain and number 10, Billy Sharp, took the lead 22 minutes in, after a lovely bit of build-up play involving McGoldrick and Baldock.

United and Sharp thought they had doubled their lead, after a brilliant pass from central midfielder Conor Hourihane, but the celebration was cut short by an offside decision.

The nightmare continued for West Brom when their central midfielder Jake Livermore was shown a straight red after a scissor tackle on Hourihane five minutes before half-time.

West Brom’s goalkeeper, Johnstone, made two great saves in the first minutes of the second half, keeping West Brom in the game and denying the Blades a second goal to kill the game.

David McGoldrick went down injured in the 67th minute and had to come off shortly after, replaced by Oliver MacBurnie.

Manager Heckingbottom said in the post-match press conference that the striker had: “Done something to his thigh” and that they don’t know the extent of the injury but that it: “looks serious given how he pulled up”.

Billy Sharp doubled United´s lead in the 81st minute with a curled effort into Johnstone´s corner.

After the second goal West Brom created few chances and United were awarded their fourth straight win which puts them right in the play-off mix in 10th place moving above West Brom, with games in hand.

Sheffield United: Foderingham, Baldock, Basham, Sharp (Berge 90”), Egan, Norwood, McGoldrick (McBurnie 68”), Robinson, Bogle, Hourihane, Ndiaye (Gibbs-White 68”)

Unused: Davies, Fleck, Goode, Norrington-Davies

West Brom: Johnstone, Furlong (O´Shean 86”), Townsend, Ajayi, Livermore, Diangana (Mulumby 45”), Carroll, Clarke, Grant, Reach, Mowatt (Robinson 78”)

Unused: Button, Kipre, Tulloch, Gardner-Hickman

Link to the published article.

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Drag king performances are not only about toxic masculinity, yet all drag kings experience it

Drag kings have been around for ages. As a matter of fact, they have a very strong presence in Britain`s theatrical history, even as early as the early modern period. 

The year 1660 marked the first time that women were legally allowed to perform on stage, and they did so under the appearance of men. Aphra Behn, for example, created plays about women wooing men at gatherings while dressed as men!

Fast forward to the Music Hall tradition of the 19th and 20th centuries, when a sea of female performers were toying with masculinity on stage. Not as a subculture, but in front of the King and Queen at the first royal Variety Show in 1912. Even though the Queen grew a little fussy about it, they laid the framework for drag kings to explore and expand gender in whichever way they saw fit today. 

Christian Adore is a drag king, performed by Francesca Forristal. Together with Eaton Messe, they make up the iconic double act Dragprov Revue. 

Christian plays with masculinity on stage, using makeup and illusion to mess with gender. He says drag kings are often labeled as the “opposite of drag queens” however to him drag kings can be cis women, trans men and non-binary, there is no “opposite” about it.”

He adds: “We are all sick of gender being a total dick to everyone. Telling us how to dress, how to act, who “can” or “can't” do whatever. 

“And there are some seriously toxic men out there that drag kings are DYING to sink their satire teeth into.”

Christian is rooting for drag kings rights to have fun parodying all the things that might infuriate them about cis-men. Yet, personally, Christian favourite drag kings have characters which dig a little deeper than direct imitation of toxic stereotypes.

He says: “There is equal room for celebration. Trans masculinity, beauty in masculinity, confidence, vulnerability, different body shapes and body positivity. 

“Try to see what complex qualities you can bring to masc-identity and imagine drag as a space to dream big. What could masculinity look like, if society was more open minded?”

Drag kings have been around forever, long before RuPaul entered the drag stage. Though drag is not all about Rupaul's Drag Race, quite the opposite actually, it should be acknowledged how the show and Rupaul has boosted drag`s overall popularity. 

However, what should also be acknowledged is the fact that RuPaul only allows queens on his show. No kings, no femme-queens. Imagine The Great British Bake Off, but with only cisgender men as contestants.

As a result, corporate or high-profile events scatter after drag queens, sounding like spoiled kids who want “glamorous queens like the ones on Drag Race”. The gender pay gap has followed drag kings, even when they are dressed as men…ironic isn't it? 

LoUis CyFer is a drag king. He performs drag as a way to express his identity as a queer artist. 

He says: “I perform on stage the complexities of my relationship to my gender in front of an audience that maybe connect with it on some level or don't. 

“I get to experience the excellence that is punishing and playing around with the opposite gender.”

He explains how not all drag kings challenge toxic masculinity, but he thinks that they all have experienced it. 

He adds: “I think it's always in some way or another found within their work. Some of them replicate that toxic masculinity in their characters and some of them try to wrestle with it. 

“Trying to create different perspectives of masculinity and trying to destruct what it is, what toxic masculinity is and how harmful it can be.”

When talking about what it is like to be a drag king in relation to the entertainment industry, drag king LoUis CYfer says “it is like being the one at a party that no one wants to talk to.”

“There are a lot of very good drag kings, but a lot of the venues are not giving them the opportunity to have a full show because they know now, because of RuPaul and the last 14 years, that drag queens will sell tickets. People with power, producers and managers, are frightened to take a risk because they think their audience won't like it. 

“Whenever I or some of my drag kings friends have performed, people have absolutely loved it and been like “yes! Something different!”

LoUis explains how he thinks the difference in popularity comes down to the “patriarchal chokehold” that exists in the western world and opportunities are always coming second to people who “are not born with a penis.”

“We have to sort of wait for our opportunity and I think that is because a lot of men are in power and so what would happen if they offered women power.” 

He goes on to talk about RuPaul and how they have offered themselves, as well as being able to have these opportunities because they are “privileged gay men”. 

“There are a lot of privileged gay men in the entertainment industry and they are very highly represented. 

“In many ways, being a queer woman or cis female, those opportunities are not given to you because they are not celebrated as much. Particularly, buchness isn't celebrated because it is not desirable to men. So why would it make its way into television and mainstream media?”

It is safe to say that RuPaul's Drag Race has made a lot of drag queens very rich as well as given them fantastic opportunities and excelled through their craft. However, it is exclusionary. 

LoUis says: “It's such a shame. RuPaul`s comments about only men being able to do drag was very silly.

“I think that for all the good that the show has done, it has done quite a lot of damage as well to the queer community. 

“It has sort of told people to be a good queer you got to be like a sassy, nasty gay who's clicking fingers and popping ‘yas queen’ in order to be seen as powerful, by reclaiming these ways of being.”

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Shining a light on Seasonal Affective Disorder

It's no secret that changes in the weather and temperature can affect our mood. It could, however, also have an substantial impact on our mental health and daily lives.

When this happens, it's critical to bring attention to seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and the underlying causes of poor mental health.

SAD affects up to three in 100 people in the UK at some point of their life. Most people experience symptoms in their early 20s or 30s.

Henriette Olivia Skauen, 21, got diagnosed with SAD when she was 14. She explains that she still suffers from it, but she has learnt to manage her symptoms which makes it easier to cope with it. 

Henriette got diagnosed with SAD at the age of 14.

“I struggle the most during the winter months. I feel down, upset and very emotional.

“When I feel the change in the seasons, I feel very drained and sad, I struggle a lot with motivation and I find it very difficult getting dressed or out of bed.”

According to the mental health charity Mind the symptoms of SAD will only happen during one part of the year, or get significantly worse in one season.  

Lilly Marie, 21, got diagnosed with SAD by her psychiatrist after they saw a pattern of symptoms during every winter season. 

Lilly says she has learnt how to manage her symptoms.

“My symptoms got progressively worse every winter, I would eventually end up feeling angry, anxious and impatient. I didn't want to see anyone, not friends nor family. I didn't want to go anywhere or do anything.”

Lindsay George, a family counsellor and psychotherapist, explains that getting a diagnosis and treatment is critical because otherwise, the cycle may repeat itself year after year, and the symptoms may worsen.

She says: “I have seasonal affective disorder and I am very aware of what it does to my mood.

“I have a light lamp that I use when I am online with clients during the wintertime and I take vitamin D to manage it.”

Both Henriette and Lilly also use light therapy to cope with their symptoms. It gives off a bright light that mimics natural outdoor light and supplies the skin with vitamin D. Other treatments for SAD includes antidepressants and talking therapies.

The exact cause of SAD is still unknown, but lack of sunlight is believed to be one of them. When there isn't enough sunlight, the brain's production of serotonin, a hormone which stabilizes our mood, well-being and happiness, slows down and these functions gradually stop.

 Less sunlight also disturbs our body clock. People with SAD seem to produce a higher level of melatonin during winter, a hormone that helps our body sleep, which can lead to tiredness and depression. 

There are hardly any statistics concluding the number of people suffering from SAD. 

Lindsay George explains that the reason for that is because it's difficult to diagnose and that people are reluctant to put a label on it. 

She thinks that SAD is one of those conditions that there is little known about. She says: “People go to sort of more common mental health disorders, where they can say ‘Actually, I can relate to those conditions’, because they are spoken about so much more often.”

According to her website, studies commissioned by The Weather Channel and YouGov found that as many as 29% of adults in the UK experience symptoms of SAD, with 8% experiencing it to an extreme degree.

“SAD is a cycle thing, it happens at specific times of the year and the environment in which we are living makes it so much harder to diagnose because there are other things potentially going on at the same time.”

Mind says that they don’t have any statistics on the prevalence of SAD. However, they claim it is considered to be more common in countries such as England and Wales, where seasonal weather and daylight hours vary. According to SAD.uk, researchers have found a link between where you live and your chances of developing SAD. According to their research, the further away from the equator you live, the more likely you are to develop it. 

A research report by Annals of General Psychiatry also suggests that seasonal changes appear to affect mental health and that rapid temperature changes can deepen depression. The report also states that extended periods of light in the summer and the overwhelming production or serotonin after long periods without it, can trigger impulsivity and promote suicidal acts. Furthermore, studies show that spring suicide peaks are also associated with changes in temperature and weather.

A common stereotype is that people in Nordic countries are the most depressed in the world, but according to research it may not be far from the truth. Research by the Happiness Research Institute shows that 12.3% of the Nordic countries population are struggling or suffering. A figure that rises to 13.5% among 18- to 23-year-olds.

This might come as a surprise, considering the fact that most Nordic countries are considered to be some of the happiest in the world, with well-functioning democracies, free education and healthcare, in addition to having a high priority of life balance. 

However, the report shows that Denmark saw 18.3% of people aged 16 to 24 suffer from poor mental health. Norway saw a 40% increase of young people seeking mental health help and Finland reported that suicide was responsible for a third of all deaths among young people. In addition to this, Greenland har an annual suicide rate of 100 per 100,000 inhabitants and has the highest suicide rate in the world.  

Seeing as how the dark winters in the Nordic countries, with up to 20 hours of darkness each day in some areas, are more likely to trigger symptoms of SAD, this might be why developed northern countries are experiencing high rates of suicide and poor mental health. 

Like any other type of depression, there are no external symptoms and people suffering from it are likely to experience stigma and misconceptions, making it more even complicated to diagnose and treat. 

Isolde, 21, is suffering from depression and tells me that she has always experienced a feeling of shame and fear of being judged. 

“I feel like most people don't actually understand what it’s like, but rather think ‘she should just get herself together and stop making excuses’, or that i'm just lazy.”

Even though people are gradually becoming more knowledgeable about the subject, she believes that few people know what depression really looks like.

Laura Duncan, a Senior Lecturer at University of Chester´s Faculty of Health and Social Care, says that stigma is a complex issue.

“Historically, mental health issues have been perceived to be shameful or a sign of weakness and these perceptions take a lot longer to change within society.”

She says that individuals might feel that if they disclose that they have a mental health issue, this will cause people to see them in a negative way or it may even mean they see themselves in a negative way.

“Depression is a serious illness and in its most severe cases can lead to suicidal thoughts or actions.

“The most shocking thing to consider about stigma is that people very literally lose their lives because of it.”

She claims that one of the most effective ways to fight stigma is to be more open about it. 

“If someone is diabetic, we don’t judge them for needing to take insulin because they have a condition that requires it for them to be healthy. 

“However, if someone has depression, they feel judged about taking anti-depressant medication. Why is it perceived any differently to someone who needs insulin to maintain their health and wellbeing?”

She explains that learning to understand your emotions and feelings is the most helpful way to manage them. 

“If we were generally more open about our emotions and feelings on a day-to-day basis, this would mean that when people found they were struggling, they would feel more comfortable in sharing that and seeking help.

“We ultimately need to normalize having an emotional response to life because it is absolutely normal!”

The seasons will continue changing but bringing more light to SAD and the causes of it may help, and in some cases save, more people than you think.

[hanna-portfolio]

THE GREAT DATING TALK WITH AMERICA'S #1 DATING ENTHUSIAST

Named “America’s Number 1 Dating Enthusiast” by Time Magazine, Brian Howie is one of the leading influencers in the dating world by furiously pushing the dialogue between men and women further. The 55 year-old, who is from New York, is currently living in Santa Monica, California and despite being named America’s Number 1 Dating Enthusiast by Time Magazine, Brian himself is still single!

However, his single-status does not make him any less of a dating enthusiast, quite the opposite really. He experienced great success with his book How to Find Love in 60 Seconds in 2014, a nationally renowned relationship phenomenon that teaches women a unique step-by-step approach on how to take control of their dating fate and find love...in just 60 seconds!

Ohh how we wish it was that easy…

When touching on his inspiration behind writing the book, Brian says: “I had worked with, and been around, a lot of women who either didn't recognize or didn't want the power I felt they had when it came to their dating fates.

“I felt that women act and men react, yet the women were going about it the opposite way. Which ultimately led me to write a book like How to Find Love in 60 Seconds.”

Following the release of his book in 2014, Brian and his team set up what was meant to be a one night, exclusive, promotional event after his agent suggested he raise some of the questions that the book raises in a public, town-hall theater style setting. 

However, the event sold-out and was a massive hit, and soon after the Great Love Debate tour hit the road.

“It all blew up from there, we have now done 434 shows in 126 cities and 13 countries.

"And even though we might be traveling around to different cities and countries on tour, the aim always stays the same.

“And that is that the live conversations and questions we raise on love, sex, dating and relationships will make the audience learn and laugh, and who knows, might even make them fall in love.”

A year later, Brian released his first The Great Love Debate podcast episode, which has been the world’s Number 1 Dating and Relationship podcast since its debut in 2015.Each week, he is joined in-studio by Celebrity Guests and dynamic voices to have conversations and raise questions on love, dating, and relationships in an attempt to answer the question "Why is everyone still single?"

Despite his continuous efforts to help and inspire people worldwide to make positive change in their lives and take ownership of their personal growth, dating fate and long-term happiness through classes, courses, workshops, seminars, speaking engagements and live events, he is reluctant to call himself a “dating expert” and says there is “no such thing”.

He would rather call himself a “dating enthusiast”. “I believe the Times Magazine referred to me as America's number one dating enthusiast because I have pushed the conversation about dating and between men and women further and more often than just about anyone else.

“And I feel that dating enthusiast is the perfect way to describe me, as I would like to think of myself as someone who is enthusiastic about dating and building connections.”

When asked why the conversation of dating and men and women is so important he says: “it is because it never ends, and we continue to grow, learn, share, and come together as a result of having these conversations.

“Raising questions is just as important as finding answers, because the questions lead to the dialogue, and the dialogue leads to the connection.

 “Through my experience with both the Great Love Debate tour and podcast I have learned so much of our dating experiences, and relationships, and decisions are rooted in fear and pain from the past.

“That, and realizing that almost all of our answers lie outside our comfort zone, and moving past that is where all the answers lie.”

Making an effort to step out of your comfort zone is one of Brian’s best pieces of advice for someone looking to enter the dating world, or for someone who is struggling with dating. “The answers almost always lie outside your comfort zone. Get rid of the words ‘Not my type. If you're still single, you have no type, because that type hasn't been working out for you!”.

A study by Pew Research Center shows that most daters say their dating lives are not going well and they find it difficult to find people to date. 67% say that dating is going “not too well” and “not at all well”, whilst 75% find dating to be “very/somewhat difficult”. 

Brian encourages people to never stop searching for their true love or give up by saying “there is no one out there for me”. He says one of the biggest misconceptions about dating is that “it’s not worth the headache, or the effort or the pain”.

 “Because it absolutely is. There is nothing that beats the excitement and the magic of clicking on a date, and exploring all the possibilities with a new partner.

In spite of the fact that it’s possible for your future wife to be the next person you swipe right on on tinder, Brian encourages people to seek love and connections the more-or-less “old-fashioned” way. 

“Just get out of the house! Love is not going to come knocking on your door. Get comfortable being around people of the opposite and same sex in a social setting. Go to public places, go to networking events, pursue hobbies, try to take classes. 

“There are so many people in the exact same boat as you...and all of them are outside your doors.”

However, he emphasizes on the fact that there are no essential rules to dating, one of the reasons why he doesn’t call himself a dating expert is because every situation and every relationship is different.

 “The only rule is there shouldn't be any rules. Do whatever feels right, and comfortable, and empowering for you.”

Dating can be challenging for anyone. It could be especially challenging for people who have gone through a breakup to then re-enter the dating world again.

Research and studies have been conducted to nail down the timeline for how long it takes for  people to move on. A 2017 study found that 71% of people who had recently broken up with their partners felt better after about three months, but a different survey from 2017 conducted on around 2,000 people found that the timeline was closer to six months. In the case of divorces, however, a study discovered that it takes approximately 18 months for people to move on.

Brian is one of many who thinks that such studies should be taken with a grain of salt. “There is no template for how long it takes someone to get over a breakup because everyone’s situation is different. There is no specific standard.”

He claims in terms of knowing whether or not you're over a breakup and ready to start dating again is “when you go 24 straight hours without thinking about the last person in any way that triggers emotions, good or bad, that’s when you are ready. If you can’t go one full day, wait until you can. It will be more fair to you, and then the next person.”

He further explains that relationships and break-ups can change a person, and that this could have an influence on how they approach dating post-breakup as well.

“Hopefully you learn from the relationship, and the experience, and you take lessons from it, and that you don’t carry the baggage or judgements into the next relationship.

“Every situation is different, give not only yourself but also the next person and the next situation, a fair shot at love.”

A recurring problem with some people looking to date and find their true love is according to Brian their overwhelming need to seek validation rather than love. “I think that people who are seeking validation from another person or from a relationship aren’t focused on what matters in the relationship, or in the other person.

Do we all want it and need it? Of course, but the validation needs to be in the success of the relationship, and the happiness it brings, not in the need to be needed.”

So for those who might think dating is hopeless, and that their true love is out-of-reach, America’s Number 1 Dating enthusiast has encouraging words for you that might give you the hope to find true love, back.

“Every day is a fresh start and a new opportunity. There are possibilities every single day, all around us, that you need to learn to recognize, act on, and don't overlook. It only takes one!”