The UK Pulse The Pulse of the UK

Fifty women say they were pressured into swinging

Fifty women say they were pressured or coerced into swinging, with allegations involving FabSwingers, police handling, and long-lasting trauma.

9 min read

Woman using a laptop while viewing the FabSwingers website. The screen shows forum and message board pages. The image is taken over the woman's shoulder in a dimly lit indoor setting.

Female veterans support group gains national attention

A Norfolk and Suffolk mental health support service for female veterans has helped 48 women in one year and may be copied nationally, with the MOD developing a new toolkit.

3 min read

A woman with long blonde hair tied back is sitting on a wooden bench. She is wearing a blue polo shirt. She wears glasses.

Evidence lacking for mental health monitoring tech

The Lampard Inquiry into more than 2,000 Essex deaths heard there is no strong independent evidence that Oxevision improves safety in mental health wards.

3 min read

Protesters stand outside Arundel House in Central London. They are holding a big horizontal banner that says "SOS Essex is dying!" Some are also holding posters of their relatives that have died. They are standing outside the front of the mock-Tudor building. There is a row of about 30 people.

US panel backs easing peptide restrictions despite safety concerns

An FDA advisory panel voted to ease restrictions on controversial peptides including BPC-157 and KPV, despite safety concerns and limited human research.

4 min read

Robert F Kennedy is seen before a mic. He is wearing a light blue shift, blue tie and a dark blue suit.

Heatwave anxiety can feel overwhelming, experts say

Parents, experts and others describe rising climate anxiety during heatwaves, and psychologists offer ways to cope, from talking to others to staying physically cool.

6 min read

Head and shoulders shot of young woman with glasses and shoulder-length light brown hair. She wears a pink striped top and is surrounded by countryside.

Northern Ireland holiday options leave Richard Douglas struggling

Richard Douglas says he cannot find suitable holiday accommodation in Northern Ireland and is seeking to create accessible seaside stays for disabled visitors.

4 min read

Richard is sitting in a bedroom. He has a tube over his nose. He wears glasses. There is a Manchester United pillowcase on the bed.

NHS trust apologises after psychiatric ward killing

An NHS trust apologised after admitting five failures in care led to Richard Laversuch being strangled to death by another patient at Parklands Hospital in 2021.

4 min read

A man with grey hair smiling at the camera in front of green bushes. He is wearing a short-sleeved blue-patterned shirt.

England launches national strategy to reduce drowning deaths

England has launched a national strategy to reduce drowning deaths after a rise in water-related tragedies, with plans including swimming lessons, safety education and public awareness campaigns.

4 min read

Helicopters lands on a sandy beach at Bournemouth, kicking up dust, with a pier behind

Why synthetic fabrics are losing favor in wellness culture

Experts examine wellness culture’s focus on natural fibers, the push away from synthetic clothing and the limited evidence linking clothes to health risks.

10 min read