I do not think anyone should get to decide, quietly and on my behalf, whether I am allowed to grieve. That is what this has come down to for me. My grandad died on Tuesday, and I was not told. I found out without the basic courtesy that most people would expect from family. Now I am left asking the next painful question: will I be told about my grandad’s funeral? Part of me already thinks I know the answer. If I was not told he had died, why would I suddenly be told when the

A blanket ban on social media for under-16s may sound like protection, but for many LGBTQ young people it could cut off one of the few safe routes to support, language, and belonging. The UK’s push to make the internet safer for children comes from a real concern. Young people can face bullying, harmful content, grooming, addiction-style app design, and pressure that adults barely understand themselves. None of that should be brushed aside. But a ban is a blunt tool. It treat

When I tried to take my own life, everything changed. What followed was not just a battle with my mental health but also a struggle with how the people around me, especially at school, responded. My mum decided to keep me out of school for months because she didn’t trust the school to protect me or prevent another crisis. Instead of support, the school pushed back hard. They threatened my mum with fines if I didn’t return and even lowered my grades. This is my story of naviga