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Bride-to-be who helped fiancé run cocaine ring for cash AVOIDS jail after revealing she’s pregnant with his child

A BRIDE-to-be who helped her fiancé run a cocaine ring has avoided prison because she’s pregnant with his child.

Sasha Ellis-Johnson, 22, was a go-between for customers buying cocaine from her drug dealer boyfriend Joe Cooke.

a woman in a bikini covers her eyes while a man holds a drink
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Bride-to-be Sasha Ellis-Johnson and her fiance Joe Cooke ran a cocaine ring[/caption]
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Ellis-Johnson leaving Chester Crown Court today[/caption]
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Cooke was jailed for 28 months today[/caption]
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Ellis-Johnson broke down in court today[/caption]

She broke down and wept at Chester Crown Court after pleading guilty to to being concerned in the supply of cocaine.

But she avoided jail after being handed a 16-month sentence, suspended for two years.

She told the court she and Cooke are expecting another baby next May after she discovered she was pregnant just weeks before they were due to be sentenced.

And passing sentence, Judge Michael Leeming decided against a prison because “an immediate custodial sentence may result in the loss of your home”.

Cooke, 21, claimed he had accumulated a £2,000 drug debt after using cocaine as a “coping mechanism” when then pregnant Sasha lost their child.

He then started peddling drugs to friend to pay off the debt.

Over a six-month period, Ellis-Johnson acted as a go-between, fielding messages which read: “Can we pick up another bag? Got cash. We will get a taxi there and back if Joe wants to sell for us.”

Another said: ”Hey love is your bf about cause we want a bag and got cash’ to which she replied ‘ring thís number or text it… he’s going to ring you now.'”

But cops busted the couple as they were getting into a taxi near their home in Crewe, Cheshire, at around 4.45pm on June 20 earlier this year.

During a subsequent search of their home, officers found cocaine ready for delivery, scales, snap bags and cash in a drawer in their bedroom.

Further drugs were also found stashed in Cooke’s underpants.

Text messages on Cooke’s phone also showed him using threats to secure payment.

The court heard 24 wraps of cocaine in 0.5 gram and 1.75 gram weights were seized with a value of up to £1,380 and £1,315 in cash was found.

In a statement, Ellis-Johnson said: “At the time of the offending I was aware Joe had a cocaine habit and had accumulated a drug debt. As a result he was selling drugs to pay off his drug debt.

“I was never directly involved in the supply of drugs but accept that I facilitated in the supply of drugs by providing contact details of my partner and passing contact details on to him.

“I was contacted by friends who wanted to buy cocaine and I passed Joe’s contact details on to them.

“In relation to the message exchanges, this was a time when Joe used my phone.

“I accept that I facilitated the drug exchange at that time with the messages from my mobile phone. I was never involved with supplying users directly but facilitated the exchange.”

Adam Watkins, defending, also said she had “got involved through loyalty rather than for any financial benefit to herself”.

He added that she had been “immature and naive”.

Passing sentence, In sentencing Judge Michael Leeming told Ellis-Johnson: “You present a low risk of reoffending or serious reoffending and are a low risk to the public.

“The mitigating factors are your personal mitigation, the fact that you are currently pregnant and an immediate custodial sentence may result in the loss of your home.'”

However, her partner Cooke was today jailed for 28 months.

He earlier admitted possessing with intent to supply and acquiring criminal property.

a picture of a man and a woman with the caption had worse wednesdays
Ellis-Johnson avoided jail, but her fiance didn’t
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a woman in a bikini is standing in the ocean
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Ellis-Johnson “acted out of loyalty” and was “naive”, the court heard[/caption]

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MAFS star Adam shows off two and a half stone weight loss after backlash over comments about wife’s appearance

MAFS star Adam Nightingale has shown off his two and a half stone weight loss, after backlash for comments he made about his wife Polly.

The 33-year-old complained that his wife Polly Sellman, 28, wasn’t what he’d been “expecting” after they came face-to-face during an episode of the E4 show.

a man with a beard is sitting at a table with a bottle of wine .
Channel 4
MAFS star Adam Nightingale has shown off his two and a half stone weight loss, after backlash for comments he made about his wife Polly[/caption]
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Instagram/@adam.nightingale.1990
Adam shared a video working out in the gym[/caption]
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He was using various different machines[/caption]
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Adam has lost two and a half stone[/caption]

While the careers advisor complimented him on his teeth and aftershave, barber Adam failed to return the gesture.

And the newlyweds’ relationship has been fraught with difficulties from the off, with Adam admitting Polly isn’t his type, and instead saying he prefers “petite brunettes.”

Now, Adam has shown off his post-show weight loss after taking to the gym for a Sunday workout session.

The barber could be seen in the gym using various different machines, all while filming his progress.

He began the video by downing a pre workout, before writing: “Sunday full body workout.

“Training to tone up now, not get big.”

Adam also revealed how much weight he’d lost, as he said: “2 & half stone weight loss, but we still pushing.

“Weighing 13 stone 7. 10-15 reps x4 no slacking.”

Adam has been flooded with messages of congratulations, from both MAFS fans but also co-stars too.

MAFS bride Lacey wrote: “Well done Adam!!! Smashing it,” while Nathan posted a muscle emoji.

Adam’s workout comes after fans of the show were left distracted by a “disgusting” detail as Adam and Polly had their friends round for dinner.

Revealing the Indian takeaway he’d picked up, Adam insisted he was unable to cook because of the lack of pans in their apartment.

As they sat down to eat, Polly remarked: “Obviously this isn’t homemade.”

Married at First Sight's best moments

Married at First sight has brought eight explosive series of drama to the small screen. These are some of the best moments

  • When series 8 couple Rozz Darlington and Thomas Kriaras brought secretly brought a sex toy to the couple’s dinner party. Unbeknownst to their fellow cast members who they were having dinner with, Rozz wore a vibrating egg gadget whilst husband Thomas had the controls.
  • Nikita’s exit in series 6. Nikita was removed from the show early on due to her behaviour, which led to her husband Ant re-entering the experiment with Alexis.
  • A slightly more heart warming highlight from series 6 was watching Dan and Matt’s relationship unfold. Dan and Matt were the first same-sex couple on the show, and their relationship was both ground-breaking and adorable.
  • Emma and James’ wedding in series 1. They were the first couple to ever get married on the UK version of the show. Emma and James, had a beautiful ceremony that set the tone for the series.
  • The dinner party showdowns are always a MAFs highlight with explosive arguments and unexpected alliances forming.

He replied: “I can’t cook for four people because obviously we haven’t got pans.

“I got a chicken byriani, which you like, then I thought I’d get something saucy… but they forgot to put it in the bag.

“So we’ve basically got chicken and rice, rice and chips.”

Fans rushed to social media to have their say on Adam’s less-than-appetising takeaway order.

One wrote: “Wtf is that food Adam?” Another said: “The look on Adam’s mate’s face at the food.”

Someone else said: “If my partner told me we were getting Indian take away and came back with that order I would cry.”

And a fourth added: “It’s no wonder British food has historically had a bad reputation.”

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Adam said he weighs 13 stone 7[/caption]
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Fans praised Adam’s efforts[/caption]
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Channel 4
Viewers were left horrified by Adam’s food choice[/caption]

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Largest ever multiplayer Tetris game is coming to the UK – and here’s how you can play for FREE

IT’S one of the best-loved video games of all time – and now Tetris’s 40th anniversary is set to be celebrated with the largest interactive multiplayer version of the game ever.

From next Monday, fans of the world famous block-stacking game can join up to six others for a supersized match at London’s Outernet, Europe’s largest digital exhibition space.

a man with a mustache is standing in front of a wall of tetris blocks
Darren Fletcher
The Sun has been given exclusive access to Outernet London where visitors will be able to join in the massive game of Tetris from Monday 28th October[/caption]
a sign that says born to play on it
Darren Fletcher
Tetris has been transformed into a multiplayer game, allowing up to seven people at a time to work together to beat the game[/caption]
a person is playing a tetris game on their phone
Darren Fletcher
All you need to do to join in is scan the QR code found on the screens with your phone[/caption]

The Sun was given exclusive early access to Outernet London, just a short hop from Tottenham Court Road station, where next week visitors will be able to play for free in 360-degrees across five colossal 26k resolution screens. 

Maya Rogers, CEO of Tetris, said: “We haven’t done anything like this before, so I’m so excited to be able to bring Tetris to people in this way.

“This extraordinary installation is a testament to the timeless appeal of Tetris and our commitment to creating experiences that bring joy to the Tetris community. 

Joining in is easy – all you need is a smartphone to join the free Wi-Fi and scan a QR code, at which point you are assigned your colour and blocks will start to appear and drop.

Tetris is usually one player but to celebrate the decades it has spent bringing people together over their love of gaming, the developers have made it so that up to seven people can join in and work together to beat the game.

Maya said to The Sun: “I hope this experience will be a bonding experience for people. 

“It’s really a game that has no boundaries, that has no cultural barriers – and the idea of you being able to walk into the space and then start playing with other people, I think is the perfect way to showcase that.”

As the daughter of Henk Rogers, the man who helped bring Tetris out of the Soviet Union and onto games consoles worldwide, it’s no wonder the game is so close to her heart. 

“I’ve talked to so many people around the world and every single person that I’ve talked to that has played the game can tell me a story, a fond memory of playing Tetris,” Maya added.

“And I feel the same way when I play the game. It’s as simple as that for me, Tetris is joy. 

“As long as people are playing games, Tetris will be around. There’s a little bit of Tetris in everything that people play.”

Tetris’s origins can be traced back to 1984, when programmer Alexey Pajitnov developed the game at the Soviet Academy of Sciences.

The game was so addictive, it had to be banned from the Moscow Medical Institute because of the impact it was having on productivity. 

Western computer developers were keen to get their hands on it and it soon became caught up in a complex dispute over who owned the rights. 

But over a session playing a classic Japanese board game, Henk and Alexey formed a bond that secured the rights to Tetris for the Nintendo Gameboy and NES console. 

a man looks up at a sign that says born to play
Darren Fletcher
Even Sun reporter Tom was able to get a hang of landing the blocks[/caption]
the world of tetris is displayed on a large screen
Darren Fletcher
Tetris was created 40 years ago by Alexey Pajitnov, and it soon spread around the Soviet Union – and proved notoriously addictive[/caption]
people standing in front of a large screen that says scan to play
Darren Fletcher
The Tetris Company has partnered with Outernet London to celebrate the game’s anniversary in spectacular fashion[/caption]
a group of people standing in front of a screen that says thank you for playing tetris
Darren Fletcher
Joining in is easy – the attraction is completely free of charge, and Wi-Fi is provided[/caption]

Soon, millions were clicking away and, in the four decades since its birth, Tetris has sold more than 520 million units and had more than 615 million downloads onto mobile devices.

Bringing the game to the big screen was no mean feat, and Outernet’s team have been working hard to make sure every single visitor throughout October, November and December will be able to have as much fun as possible.

Alexandra Payne, Director of Creative at Outernet, said: “We’re thrilled to host the 40th anniversary of Tetris – it really goes to the core of what Outernet is all about. 

“It’s about immersive experiences, about community. It’s about creating events that people can come together and enjoy as a group. 

Jad Zouein, Outernet’s creative technology director, explained that their giant interactive version of the game “wouldn’t have been possible” even just five years ago, due to the cutting-edge tech that’s built into it.

He added: “We kind-of democratised Tetris in a way. And with the help of Tetris themselves, we were able to create this concept.”

Play the biggest interactive game of Tetris ever at Outernet for free from Monday 28th October.

world of tetris is displayed on a large screen
Darren Fletcher
Be warned – blocks can sometimes appear in unexpected places[/caption]

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موعد نهائي السوبر المصري بين الأهلي والزمالك والقنوات الناقلة

موعد نهائي السوبر المصري بين الأهلي والزمالك، يضرب فريقي الاهلي والزمالك موعدا جديدا في مباريات كرة القدم المصرية وذلك بعد تأهل الفريقين لنهائي بطولة السوبر المصري والتي يجمع القطبين في...

ظهرت المقالة موعد نهائي السوبر المصري بين الأهلي والزمالك والقنوات الناقلة أولاً على سعودي 24.

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سبب طلاق جوري بكر للمرة الثانية رسمي

سبب طلاق جوري بكر للمرة الثانية، الفنانة جوري بكر أعلنت طلاقها رسميا للمرة الثانية منذ 3 أشهر وفضلت عدم الإعلان عنه عبر مواقع التواصل الاجتماعي، إلا أنها قررت الآن إعلانه...

ظهرت المقالة سبب طلاق جوري بكر للمرة الثانية رسمي أولاً على سعودي 24.

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كيفية حل لغز المرآة في الغرفة 202 بلعبة ريميك Silent Hill 2

 حل لغز المرآة في الغرفة 202، كيف يمكنك حَل لغزْ المرآة في الغرفَة 202 في سايلنت هيل 2؟ بعد فتح باب المدخل الأمامي، ستدخل الغرفَة 202 لتستقبلك مرْآة مكسورة تكشف...

ظهرت المقالة كيفية حل لغز المرآة في الغرفة 202 بلعبة ريميك Silent Hill 2 أولاً على سعودي 24.

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البث المباشر السد ضد برسبوليس دوري أبطال آسيا

البث المباشر السد ضد برسبوليس، ضمن مباريات الجولة الثالثة للمجموعة الثانية من بطولة النخبة لدوري أبطال آسيا، عبر موقعنا سعودي 24. تعرف على الموعد والتشكيل المتوقع وقنوات البث والبث المباشر....

ظهرت المقالة البث المباشر السد ضد برسبوليس دوري أبطال آسيا أولاً على سعودي 24.

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How Our Accents Shape Perceptions

People commonly judge others on their accent — how they sound when they speak. Accents can result in judgments about an individual’s education, intelligence, and social class. In Britain, for example, those with an Upper Received Pronunciation accent are frequently viewed as privileged and, well, self-important. Accents can also lead to assumptions about a person’s ... Read more

The post How Our Accents Shape Perceptions appeared first on AiTechtonic - Informative & Entertaining Text Media.

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People are just discovering the world’s only BLUE McDonald’s – and the surprising reason behind the unique look

ONE of the rarest McDonald’s in the world has ditched the iconic golden arches and gone blue for a very surprising reason.

McDonald’s has over 41,000 stores across the globe but one branch in Arizona has managed to stray from the traditional yellow and red branding for over three decades.

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Alamy
One of the rarest McDonald’s in the world has ditched the iconic golden arches and turned them blue[/caption]
a large mcdonald 's sign with a blue m on it
Alamy
The arches in Sedona, Arizona are an unusual teal colour for a surprising reason[/caption]
an american flag is flying in front of a mcdonald 's
Alamy
The blue arches have quickly made the store into a popular tourist attraction[/caption] a map showing the location of the blue mcdonald 's

The quirky Sedona store is located just off State Route 89A and welcomes in thousands of hungry visitors every day.

But many people are still left in disbelief when they spot the teal arches sitting proudly outside the restaurant.

McDonald’s decided to open up in the bustling city just a few years after it was incorporated into the state of Arizona – thrilling locals with the tasty addition.

The fast-food joint was first built over three decades ago in 1993 and originally planned to have the golden arches like every other store.

But the Department of Community Development in Sedona was left with a bitter taste in their mouth due to the bright gold arches and asked to change things up.

The community had decided it didn’t want to see the shiny “M” towering over Route 89A and instead wanted it to fit into the surrounding area.

Sedona is known for its natural red rock landscape, steep canyons and pine trees and locals feared the yellow may detract from the beauty of the area.

Senior planner for the department, Cari Meyer, told ABC 15 back in 2022: “Someone suggested it would be interesting if they did something else than golden arches to fit in with the identity that the city decided to establish.”

McDonald’s agreed to switch the arches to a teal shade to avoid upsetting the locals – marking a rare brand change for McDonald’s.

Mr Meyer says the blue logo is still seen as one of Sedona’s biggest talking points for visitors and new residents.

Her added: “It’s definitely unique.

“When I first moved here, it’s what people brought up. ‘Oh, you are moving to Sedona? They have turquoise arches!'”

This popularity has made the colour change a key part of the branch’s brand still to this day.

Drinks were even served in teal cups with the burger boxes matching up to the sign out the front at one point.

Inside, it still remains a beloved McDonald’s with the classic fast food design and delicious menu.

The front of the restaurant has become a social media sensation in the past decades with weekly TikTok’s and Instagram posts being made to showcase the teal look.

Only a few other McDonald’s locations have non-traditional coloured arches. 

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Even the store’s drive-thru sign is teal[/caption]
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AFP
A McDonald’s Big Mac sat next to the traditional golden arches[/caption]

While the blue arches are a truly special switch-up for McDonald’s lovers, there are several other global stores with different colours.

McDonald’s in Sunset Boulevard, Rocklin, California has red arches instead of golden one.

Also in California, the Monterrey franchise can be seen from miles away with its black arches.

Across in Europe, a store on the stunning Champs-Élysées in Paris is often cited as one of the world’s best looking McDonald’s with its neon white arches.

Similar white signs also light up a McDonald’s in Bruges, Belgium.

Another hugely popular McDonald’s sits in Nyugati Railway Station, Budapest and it is often named the world’s most beautiful fast food store.

The station was designed by Austrian architect August de Serres, who later went on to help built the Eiffel Tower.

It opened back in 1990 and many of the original features still renain today including the antique lamps and painted stucco ceilings.

The vintage design has huge glass windows around the entire building, as well as copper-covered light fixtures.

Along with the more modern designs including touch screen kiosks, diners can even watch the food conveyor belt between the two levels of the kitchen a “unique” feature to the McDonald’s.

And it’s not the only cool McDonald’s in Europe.

One in Spain has been named the “most breathtaking,” being right on the beach.

As a Hamburg McDonald’s comes fit with a “drive-thru for boats” and has been named the coolest in the world.

All you need to know about McDonald's

HERE'S all the crucial information about McDonald's you've always wanted to know...

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‘Electric shock’ headset ‘ERADICATES’ depression in 60% of patients within weeks – and you can buy it in Boots 

A HEADSET that can be used at home could help cure depression, a study has found.

The device, which stimulates the brain using electronic pulses, could have a “significant impact” on the future treatment of the condition, experts have said.

a woman wearing a headband that says philips on it
The headset delivers weak electrical currents to the brain through electrodes placed on the forehead
She was promoting a £400 device called Flow Neuroscience AB
The device connects to an app which controls the electrical currents

The treatment relieves all symptoms of depression in more than half of patients (57.5 per cent) in just 10 weeks, the research suggests.

The East London study also showed that the headset, which zaps the brain, was able to improve symptoms in 64.2 per cent of the patients involved in the trial.

No serious side effects associated with using the device were reported in the research published in the Nature Medicine journal.

The Flow headset works by stimulating brain activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in the front of the brain, an area linked with depression.

It delivers weak electrical currents, called transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), through electrodes placed on the forehead.

A camera in an app helps the user put on the headset correctly.

It also controls the electrical current using Bluetooth.

According to the latest available data from the Office for National Statistics, one in six people externally has experienced moderate to severe depression.

Allan Young, chairman of mood disorders, and director of the centre for Affective Disorders in the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King’s College London, said: “These results are very exciting and are poised to have a significant impact on the future treatment of depression.

“Major depression is undertreated throughout the world, and the current treatment modalities have significant limitations.

“This trial shows that this treatment is both effective and well tolerated, giving patients who are currently struggling to find options that work for them a vital new alternative.”

The device is available to buy from Boots for £399 – meaning it can be used by patients at home.

Gemma Collins was previously blasted for promoting the headset on her Instagram.

In the post, the reality star claimed the device worked better than antidepressants and encouraged people to take treatment for the mental health condition into their own hands instead of seeking professional medical help, the UK watchdog ruled.

The 43-year-old, who has 2.2million followers, shared a video of herself wearing the Flow device in May 2023, which has since been taken down.

Patients involved in the research were on a stable long-term dose of an antidepressant but were still moderately to severely depressed going into the study.

a woman wearing a headset with a caption that says it will be the best thing you ever do
Instagram
Gemma Collins promoted the device on her Instagram[/caption]

Depression... the signs to look for and what to do

Depression can manifest in many ways.

We all feel a bit low from time to time.

But depression is persistent and can make a person feel helpless and unable to see a way through.

They may also struggle to about daily life.

Mind says these are some common signs of depression that you may experience:

How you might feel

  • Down, upset or tearful
  • Restless, agitated or irritable
  • Guilty, worthless and down on yourself
  • Empty and numb
  • Isolated and unable to relate to other people
  • Finding no pleasure in life or things you usually enjoy
  • Angry or frustrated over minor things
  • A sense of unreality
  • No self-confidence or self-esteem
  • Hopeless and despairing
  • Feeling tired all the time

How you might act

  • Avoiding social events and activities you usually enjoy
  • Self-harming or suicidal behaviour
  • Difficulty speaking, thinking clearly or making decisions
  • Losing interest in sex
  • Difficulty remembering or concentrating on things
  • Using more tobacco, alcohol or other drugs than usual
  • Difficulty sleeping, or sleeping too much
  • No appetite and losing weight, or eating more than usual and gaining weight
  • Physical aches and pains with no obvious physical cause
  • Moving very slowly, or being restless and agitated

If you feel this way, visit your GP who can help you.

If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support.

The following are free to contact and confidential:

Mind, www.mind.org, provide information about types of mental health problems and where to get help for them. Email info@mind.org.uk or call the infoline on 0300 123 3393 (UK landline calls are charged at local rates, and charges from mobile phones will vary).

YoungMinds run a free, confidential parents helpline on 0808 802 5544 for parents or carers worried about how a child or young person is feeling or behaving. The website has a chat option too.

Rethink Mental Illness, www.rethink.org, gives advice and information service offers practical advice on a wide range of topics such as The Mental Health Act, social care, welfare benefits, and carers rights. Use its website or call 0300 5000 927 (calls are charged at your local rate).

Using the device with the antidepressant led to even better results, with remission rates at 67.1 per cent when combined with an antidepressant, the study in 174 patients with depression found.

Professor Cynthia Fu, the study’s senior author and a professor of affective neuroscience and psychotherapy at King’s IoPPN, said: “The burden of depression is mostly keenly felt by the 280 million people worldwide currently managing symptoms.

“While a combination of antidepressants and therapy generally proves to be effective for many people, medication can have side effects that some can find disruptive.

“Our study has demonstrated that tDCS is a safe and effective alternative that has the potential to help those in need.”

If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, you can contact the Samaritans on www.samaritans.org, or 116 123 at any time.

a poster showing the unusual signs of depression

Sun Health's 6 easy ways to boost your mental health today

WE'RE all guilty of assuming that any effort to be more mentally sound will be a boring slog.

At worst, you might have to endure a miserable early morning run.

At best, you might need to carve out some extra sleep – though perhaps not boring, it might seem like an impossible feat for some.

But in reality, there are lots of small, pain-free tricks that require minimal effort but could have a huge impact on our wellbeing.

The Sun’s health team share their tried and tested ways to boost your mental health, from playing with dogs and using a free meditation app to making use of to-do lists.

Read the full story here.

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