Original version

BBC World Service South Asia

Health Check

Factual: Health & Wellbeing

Factual: Science & Nature: Science & Technology

Health issues and medical breakthroughs from around the world.

BBC World Service Australasia

BBC World Service Online

BBC World Service schedule for American satellite radio and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

BBC World Service

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

BBC World Service News Internet

BBC World Service East Asia

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa Schedule

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

BBC World Service West and Central Africa Schedule

BBC World Service West and Central Africa

Health Check: Risk of depression higher in LGBT teens

Magazines & Reviews

Two people holding hands

2019/11/20 GMT

Risk of depression higher in LGBT teens

BBC World Service - Health Check, Risk of depression higher in LGBT teens

Half of LGBT teens in British study experience depression

LGBT teens at higher risk of depression; food allergies and vaginal microbes; can fish oils help with the symptoms of ADHD?

A new British study indicates that half of lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans (LGBT) teenagers are experiencing depression. Despite the improvement of equality for LGBT people in some countries stigma and bullying is still common and affects mental health. Another study carried out in the US city of Texas also showed that 1 in 4 adolescents at an inpatient unit were LGBT – a higher level than you’d expect by chance. 
 
Researchers in the US are trying to find out if a practice called vaginal seeding might help to reduce food allergies in babies born by caesarean section. When a baby is delivered via the vagina it will come into contact with potentially-useful bacteria. So vaginal seeding aims to replicate that process. We hear from one family who have volunteered to take part in the study in New York. 

Past studies on fish oils and their impact on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have been contradictory. New research carried out in Taiwan has shown that children with low levels of fish oils who took high-dose supplement saw an improvement in their ability to concentrate. The researchers say fish oils should only be taken under medical supervision.

(Photo: Two people holding hands. Credit: fizkes/Getty Images.)

Health Check was presented by Claudia Hammond

Producer: Paula McGrath

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Health Check

Risk of depression higher in LGBT teens

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC World Service South Asia

About BBC World Service