BackgroundPostgraduate students face a dual burden of intense academic rigour and professional responsibilities, a dynamic particularly pronounced in growing economic hubs such as Nairobi, Kenya. While global literature highlights rising psychological distress in higher education, there is limited evidence on how specific coping mechanisms mediate mental health outcomes among postgraduates at private African universities. Understanding these dynamics is critical for institutional psychosocial support systems.ObjectivesThis study aimed to assess the mental health status (depression, anxiety, and stress) of postgraduate students at Strathmore University. Grounded in Lazarus and Folkman’s Transactional Model of Stress and Coping Mechanisms.MethodsAdopting a quantitative cross-sectional descriptive design, data were collected from 242 actively enrolled postgraduate students using a random stratified sampling technique. Mental health status was measured using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21), and coping mechanisms were evaluated via the Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (COPE) inventory. Data analysis utilised descriptive statistics, Spearman’s rank correlation, and multiple linear regression models.FindingsResults indicated significant psychological strain, with participants reporting difficulty winding down and high levels of anticipatory anxiety (DASS means ranged from 2.23/to 2.73 on a scale of 0-3. Regression analysis showed that coping strategies accounted for 40.2% of the variation in mental health. Notably, emotion-focused coping (β = 0.307, p <.001) and avoidant coping (β = 0.344, p <.001) had significant positive effects on mental well-being in this context. Conversely, problem-focused coping (β = -0.189, p = .002) had a significant negative effect, suggesting that direct action-oriented strategies may exacerbate distress for students facing stressors beyond their immediate control.ConclusionThe study finds that postgraduate mental health is profoundly influenced by the “plasticity” of coping strategies. While active problem-solving is traditionally encouraged, for the Kenyan postgraduate master’s student, adaptive emotion-focused and strategic avoidant strategies currently offer greater psychological relief. Universities must move from generic support to “fit-for-purpose” interventions that destigmatise mental health services and promote adaptive emotional regulation to ensure academic and professional success.
RESCUE- expected usefulness and willingness to participate in a trauma-informed group intervention for coping with traumatic work experiences in the emergency medical services
Emergency Medical Services personnel (EMS) are confronted with potentially highly stressful and traumatic occupational experiences, placing them at high-risk for mental disorders. Avoidant coping mechanisms, internalized and occupational stigma not only impede disclosure of and processing the incident-related stress but also weaken the overall resilience of the EMS. Effective interventions are needed that operate both at the individual and group level. The aim of this study was to investigate the expected usefulness and willingness to participate in a trauma-informed intervention (Facts derived from Narrative Exposure Therapy, NETfacts). A total of 256 German EMS (67.19% men, 32.81% women) participated in the online survey. We assessed the expected usefulness and willingness to participate in NETfacts, critical incident-related stress (EMS Critical Incident Inventory EMS-CII), burnout symptoms (Professional Quality of Life ProQOL), age and work experience. Overall, about half of the EMS expected NETfacts to be at least somewhat useful, and reported a generally willingness to participate. Expected usefulness was neither associated with critical incident-related stress nor burnout symptoms. Younger participants (<35 years) showed a generally higher willingness to participate than older participants. However, the willingness is across both age groups positively associated with higher levels of critical incident-related stress. Nevertheless, burnout symptoms and the willingness are negatively associated among participants age 35 and older, while remaining stable among their younger colleagues. Early, trauma-informed and age-sensitive prevention programs are needed to mitigate the adverse effects of critical incidents among EMS. Our study presents EMS preferred circumstances to enhance employees’ uptake of such a program.
Adopting a user-centred design approach for the development of on-device technology to prevent the viewing of child sexual abuse material: app design insights and principles from the development of ‘Salus’
IntroductionThe volume of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) available online and the global demand for it has reached unprecedented levels. Increasing numbers of individuals concerned about their online behaviour are contacting therapeutic providers for help and support outside of the criminal justice system. Previous research asking individuals what would help them to stop viewing CSAM suggests that the availability of a technological solution to voluntarily self-manage access to CSAM could be an effective tool.AimTo explore the findings from the user-centered design (UCD) of the ‘Salus’ prototype – a technological prevention tool to support effective self-management of individuals at risk of committing a first or further CSAM offence(s).Materials and methodsIn this two-year, European Commission funded project we conducted research in four European countries: Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom (UK). For the UCD phase of the project we conducted semi-structured interviews with 31 at-risk individuals in Belgium (n=10), Germany (n=10) and the UK (n=11), to explore the specific needs, design features, deployment methods, and concerns and barriers for the design, functionality and deployment of Salus. Additionally, four focus group discussions (FGDs) were held in Belgium, the Netherlands, and the UK with service providers (primarily therapists and managers) with extensive experience of supporting individuals at risk of committing CSAM offences to explore the same questions at the service level.ResultsIn terms of privacy and security, the potential discovery of apps such as Salus, data security and legal consequences of app usage are the main concerns of potential app users. There was consensus on the value of blocking CSAM, but opinions on the inclusion of an optional adult sexual content (pornography) filter in Salus design were not unanimous. Users should be able to switch a pornography filter on and off at their convenience. Blocking notifications should be quiet and subtle. Interactivity features are welcomed by potential users – these may include a diary function; a personal CSAM statistics page; a resources section; and a function to allow users to provide feedback to the app developers. Such features should be optional for users in order to prevent any unintended consequences of app usage. Finally, app deployment must be safe and secure.ConclusionBased on these findings, we propose seven evidence-based design principles for user-centered harm-reduction technology: privacy-by-default architecture; discretion through design ambiguity; adaptive notification systems; optional interactivity with user control; trusted-channel deployment; progressive trust building; and fail-safe harm prevention. These principles provide a framework for app developers and researchers working on similar technologies to develop interventions that reduce harmful behaviours.
Editorial: The influence of internet and technology on mental health and psychological adjustment of young adults
Brazil’s big bet on mosquitos
Nature Medicine, Published online: 12 May 2026; doi:10.1038/s41591-026-04388-5
As Brazil takes its modified mosquito program from pilot to practice at national scale, what will it take to beat dengue?
Harnessing the power of biomarkers for diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas
Nature Medicine, Published online: 12 May 2026; doi:10.1038/s41591-026-04399-2
The BIOMEDE trial, although negative for its primary endpoint, illustrates the utility of adaptive trial designs and biopsy-informed tumor profiling in guiding treatment decisions and patient counseling — and provides mechanistic evidence that can inform future therapeutic strategies.
Data-Driven Decision Support in Obesity Management Commission: enabling more equitable and personalized obesity care
Nature Medicine, Published online: 12 May 2026; doi:10.1038/s41591-026-04363-0
Announced in this Comment and in collaboration with Nature Medicine is the convening of the Data-Driven Decision Support in Obesity Management Commission, to promote adequate scientific evidence to support obesity management across global populations.
CRISPR−Cas9 CD33-deleted allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation with gemtuzumab ozogamicin maintenance in AML: a phase 1/2 trial
Nature Medicine, Published online: 12 May 2026; doi:10.1038/s41591-026-04362-1
In a first-in-human trial combining the transplantation of CD33-negative CRISPR-edited hematopoietic cells with the CD33-targeted antibody–drug conjugate gemtuzumab ozogamicin, all transplanted patients achieved primary engraftment, and the treatment was well tolerated.
Genomic epidemiology of the 2025 mpox epidemic in Sierra Leone
Nature Medicine, Published online: 12 May 2026; doi:10.1038/s41591-026-04385-8
A phylogenetic analysis examined the origins of the first mpox outbreak in Sierra Leone and found evidence of an emerging lineage (G.1) that has likely descended from the Nigerian epidemic and emerged in Sierra Leone months before first detection.
Optics-free spatial genomics for mapping mammalian brain aging by IRISeq
Nature Neuroscience, Published online: 12 May 2026; doi:10.1038/s41593-026-02293-1
The authors developed an optics-free spatial genomics method to map mouse brain aging, revealing region-specific inflammation and showing that lymphocytes promote harmful interferon signaling, whereas their loss preserves ependymal cells and reshapes glial states.