Youth

But one positive side effect of the pandemic is that many people, particularly young people in the region, have started to open up and seek help, despite cultural taboos surrounding mental illness in some countries.

In Samoa, 19-year-old Okalani Mariner was in high school when she started struggling with her mental health.

"For me, my depression was fuelled by academia," she said.

"And sometimes it did lead to really bad bouts of depression, because not only did I feel alone, but I also felt like I didn't have any help.

The Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Laauli Leuatea Polataivao Fosi along with his Associate Minister and executive management team attended the day’s festivities.

The event last Wednesday started off with a lively and colourful parade of youth and children proudly showcasing decorative floats, representing families competing for prizes at the Talomua.

Samoan is the third most spoken language in New Zealand and Samoans make up the highest proportion of the Pasifika population in the country.

Many young Samoans are New Zealand-born, so an effort has been made this year to make sure they are aware, and connected to their heritage.

A range of events has held across the country to celebrate Vaiaso o le Gagana Samoa or Samoan Language week.

But for Sydney-based online safety expert Leonie Smith, it was business as usual.

"I've seen more porn, more drug paraphernalia, more violence, more sick behaviour on Instagram than any other app," Ms Smith said of the platform, which the Royal Society for Public Health report found was more likely to leave users feeling anxious, depressed and lonely than Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter or YouTube.

What drives these extreme selfie daredevils?

He's got a camera strapped to his head and he teeters on the edge of the roof in a nine story apartment block in Siberia.

"Are you filming?" he asks, as a friend hands him a flaming torch. Orange flames engulf his legs and suddenly he jumps, somersaulting in the air like a stricken warplane before landing with a thud into a deep pile of snow.

Chancellor Philip Hammond has set out plans for them in the Budget.

He says these type of qualifications have not always been on an equal footing with academic ones - and wants that to change.

T-levels will allow 16 to 19-year-olds to study in 15 sectors in subjects like hair and beauty or construction.

The courses will replace thousands that are currently on offer and it's claimed they will make access to the job market easier.

Students in further education or technical college will also be eligible for maintenance loans.

He also challenged big companies and corporations to follow his lead.

Schools in the US city are being threatened with early closure this summer or laying off staff because of funding shortages.

Speaking to reporters he said: "This isn't about politics, this isn't about posturing, this is about taking care of the kids."

Chance handed over a giant cheque to students at a primary school in the West Chatham area of Chicago, part of its infamous South Side.

He grew up the area and his lyrics often reference his childhood.

And it's not an urban legend.

Sexual assault counselling services around the country have disclosed that the number of calls for help from female university students increases during and immediately following Orientation Week events at Australian universities.

"There are always increased reports of sexual assault around O-week," said Chrystina Stanford, CEO of the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre. "Sometimes the increase comes just after O-week when things have settled down a bit."

Although some people believe smart students simply have a tendency to experiment, James Williams and Gareth Hagger-Johnson, co-authors of the new study, say these patterns of substance use may continue into adulthood.

"Our research provides evidence against the theory that these teens give up as they grow up," said the authors, both affiliated with University College London.

Why young people use alcohol and pot

In introducing the new categories Pacific Dawn and Pacific Pearl, SPTO Chief Executive Officer Chris Cocker said: “SPTO considers Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises as important members because they make the bulk of our regional tourism industry and are responsible for driving economic growth in Pacific Island Countries. On the other hand, our youth and young professionals are the future tourism leaders of the region.”