Creatine is best known as a supplement for athletes, but a new systematic review asks whether the molecule that fuels muscle might also lift mood. Researchers at the University of Ottawa and the University of Toronto examined five randomized controlled trials of creatine monohydrate in people with mood disorders. Two of the five suggested that creatine, added to standard treatment, reduced depressive symptoms. The other three found no clear benefit. The compound was well tolerated, with only mild digestive system side effects reported. The authors conclude that larger and more balanced trials are needed before creatine earns a place in psychiatric care.

Students whose performance at school declines relative to their peers are at a higher risk of contact with the criminal justice system, a new study by King’s College London has found.

New research led by the University of East Anglia (UEA) suggests even modest, short-term changes in weather can have a measurable impact on NHS mental health service demand across England.

The study found fluctuations in temperature and levels of sunshine are linked to shifts in unscheduled mental health-related healthcare use – with increases during periods of hot weather and low sunshine.

AI-powered conversational tools are becoming a common source of emotional support for teenagers. But without safeguards and careful design, reliance on these systems may bypass opportunities for young people to develop critical relationship skills through person-to-person interactions.