Three Minute Friday News 27/04/18

• 27 April 2018
• Posted in: Healthcare, Energy & Environment, Science & Technology

A New Chapter

At the beginning of 2018 the world was gripped by the prospect of nuclear war on the Korean Peninsula. In the early hours of Friday morning, the North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un met his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-In at the border dividing the Korean Peninsular for a summit heralding ‘a historic era of peace’ between the two nations.

The summit was brimming with symbolism; beginning with the two leaders’ prolonged handshake over the concrete slab that divides the two Korea’s, to Kim walking over the border and becoming the first North Korean leader to step foot on land belonging to their southern neighbour since the end of the Korean war in 1953. Even the choice of venue for formal discussions – ‘Peace House’ in the Truce Village of Panmunjom, contributes to the important semantic of cooperation that the two countries are looking to establish.

Speaking to media outlets present at the summit, Kim made comments that deviated from the hostile rhetoric he has built an international reputation on: “It has taken 11 years for this historic moment to happen. Walking here, I wondered why it has taken so long. Through today’s meeting, I hope we don’t go back to square one again and that there won’t be a repeat of the non-implementation of what we agree… I hope we can live up to people’s expectations.”

Kim cemented his comments in the archives of history, writing in the Peace House guestbook: ‘New history starts from now, at the historic starting point of an era of peace’.

Report shows importance of mental health early intervention

A report by charity Pro Bono Economics (PBE) has shown the importance of early intervention in children’s mental healthcare.

The study focused on mental health of 4,548 pupils from 251 primary schools across the UK. These children had received one-to-one support from Place2Be, a children's mental health charity, in 2016/17.

Moreover, PBE reported economic implications. From its one-year investment of £4.2m, Place2Be's counselling service could deliver £25.9m to society by improving each child's long-term outcome such as higher lifetime earnings and lower use of public services.

It is known that half of all mental health problems start before aged 14. It could potentially be hugely beneficial for treatment and support to start at primary school age and prevent problems developing later in life.