WIREDGOV

The EC has published reports by Facebook, Google and Twitter covering the progress made in January 2019 on their commitments to fight disinformation.

These three online platforms are signatories of the Code of Practice against disinformation and have been asked to report monthly on their actions ahead of the European Parliament elections in May 2019.

Hundreds of people will receive therapy to counteract the impact of harmful social media, as part of a new NHS service for the rare eating disorder diabulimia.

Patients will be coached to deal with unrealistic body images amid increasing concerns about the potential damage social media can have on young peoples’ mental health.

Diabulimia is a condition where people with Type 1 Diabetes restrict their insulin intake to lose weight and can lead to serious complications including blindness & amputations.  It is most common in young people aged between ages 15 and 30.

Responding to growing awareness of the potentially deadly condition, NHS England has announced that it will pilot services joining up treatment for diabetes and mental ill health in London and the South Coast.  The new service comes as the NHS Long Term Plan has committed to deliver a step change in mental health treatment and a renewed focus on children and young people’s health.

The RLA’s work with the Open Doors project in helping to promote equality in the private rented sector was praised at the Plenary in Wales last week.

David Melding, Assembly Member for South Wales Central, made the comments during a discussion about a new report published this week, by CIH Cymru and Tai Pawb, on private renting & mental health.  He pointed out an example of a tenant developing a mental health issue as a result of rent arrears building up.

He noted that the area of vulnerable people in the private rented sector was an area of public policy which needed cross party support & development to meet modern trends and thought most landlords would jump at the chance to have such training to help them maintain long term tenants.

Children’s Commissioner for England warns the ‘same mistakes that led to child sexual exploitation failings are being repeated with gangs’.

Anne Longfield, the Children’s Commissioner for England, has published an in-depth study looking at children in England who are members of gangs.  The report, “Keeping kids safe: Improving safeguarding responses to gang violence and criminal exploitation”, estimates there are 27,000 children in England who identify as a gang member, only a fraction of whom are known to children’s services.

Some of these children may only identify loosely with a gang and may not be involved in crime or serious violence: more concerning is the estimated 34,000 children who know gang members who have experienced serious violence in the last year.  The research looks into the characteristics of children involved in gangs and also shows how a number of early warning signs of gang-based violence have been on the rise in recent years.

EU’s civil society consultative body votes in favour of EU-supported decent minimum income for all EU citizens in need.

On 20 February, the EESC adopted the opinion "For a European Framework directive on a Minimum Income" in which it asked the EC to introduce a binding EU framework establishing an adequate minimum income across Europe, tailored to the standard of living in each Member State.