Childhood abuse may alter gene activity in some women, raising depression risk, UK Biobank analysis suggests.

The pattern was not seen in men, suggesting the biological links between trauma and depression may differ by sex, an area of interest given higher depression rates among women.

Using data from thousands of people in the UK Biobank, the team analysed childhood experiences, mental health and genetic profiles, focusing on a gene network involved in synaptic function, the way brain cells communicate, which is disrupted in depression.

Researchers at McGill University and the Douglas Mental Health University Institute examined this network and found that, among women who experienced childhood abuse, one configuration was linked to a higher risk of depression.

Senior author Patricia Silveira is professor in McGill’s Department of Psychiatry and researcher at the Douglas Mental Health University Institute.

She said: “We know childhood abuse increases the risk of depression at the population level, but at the individual level it’s much harder to predict who will actually develop the disorder.

“Our findings point to a biological mechanism that may help explain who is more at risk, at least in women.”

The work is part of efforts to identify genomic signatures linked to depression risk, which is estimated to affect around 11 per cent of Canadian adults over their lifetime.

Our findings suggest that depression risk is shaped by how genes involved in synaptic function respond to early-life experiences.

That makes synaptic function a promising target for future research,” said co-first author Carla Dalmaz, a visiting professor at the Douglas from the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul.

“Depression is diagnosed primarily based on reported symptoms, and there are still no widely accepted biological tools in routine clinical practice to identify risk early,” added co-first author Danusa Mar Arcego, a research associate at the Douglas.

“Our findings bring us a step closer to understanding why some people may be more vulnerable, opening the door to earlier support and prevention strategies.”

WUKA has announced a groundbreaking partnership with the Royal Yachting Association (RYA), including RYA Scotland and RYA Northern Ireland, supporting women and girls in sailing.

Building on WUKA’s growing #TackleAnything campaign – which has already reached thousands of girls across sports in the UK – this collaboration brings practical period solutions into sailing.

Together, WUKA and the RYA are committed to breaking down barriers so periods never limit confidence, participation, or performance on the water.

Ruby Raut, WUKA founder & CEO, said: “Partnering with the RYA has been incredibly important for us at WUKA.

“Sailing is an amazing way for women and girls to build confidence, and periods shouldn’t hold anyone back from enjoying the water or reaching their full potential.

“Through this partnership and our #TackleAnything campaign, we’re proud to provide practical solutions and innovative products that help female sailors feel comfortable, confident, and free to focus on learning, performing, and having fun.

“Breaking down barriers and supporting women to tackle anything — on land, at sea, and everywhere in between – has never felt more meaningful.”

WUKA, which stands for Wake-Up Kick Ass, shares the RYA’s commitment to inclusivity and empowerment.

In 2023, WUKA launched #TackleAnything, a campaign supporting women, girls and sportspeople with periods. Since its launch, the initiative has reached 3,576 girls across 46 clubs and partnered with a range of sports across the UK – from Scottish Gymnastics to Titans wheelchair basketball – helping young athletes play without limits and stay confident, comfortable, and in the game.

The brand offers period-friendly aquatic apparel and practical solutions that help women train and compete with freedom of movement and total assurance.

Through this partnership, WUKA will provide innovative period swimwear for young sailors across key RYA programmes, including the NI Sailing Team, the RYA Scotland Performance Pathway Programme, and the British Sailing Pathways Talent Academies.

By combining WUKA’s mission to challenge stigma with the RYA’s commitment to inclusion, the partnership ensures young sailors can focus on what matters most – learning, performing, and enjoying their time on the water – with confidence and comfort. RYA members will also receive a 10 per cent discount on WUKA products.

Sailing offers incredible benefits for women and girls, but time on the water can present unique challenges -particularly during menstruation.

Together, WUKA and the RYA are providing practical solutions that remove these barriers, helping young sailors participate fully and confidently in the sport.

Sara Sutcliffe, RYA CEO, said: “At the RYA, we have been making strides to break down barriers for women of all ages to help ensure they can experience the water in a supportive and positive environment.

“From education workshops and practical sessions, we want to make sure our female sailors are empowered and this partnership is another great example of how we can demonstrate possible tools to equip them to succeed”.

This partnership is part of the RYA’s wider commitment to making sailing a sport where women and girls can thrive. Alongside initiatives such as the Female Futures Group, the Women’s Race Officials Programme and all new Talent Academy Female Future’s Camps; it demonstrates a continued focus on removing barriers and creating meaningful opportunities across every stage of the sailing.

WUKA’s involvement ensures that practical solutions are available on the water, from innovative period swimwear to support resources, helping young sailors feel fully equipped and confident during training and competition.

By integrating these tools into RYA programmes, WUKA brings a new level of comfort and assurance to female athletes, allowing them to focus entirely on performance, enjoyment, and growth in the sport.

For any women and girls looking to learn more about sailing, visit www.rya.org.uk.

For more information on WUKA visit www.wuka.co.uk.

Wysa has secured £5.3m to adapt a digital mental health programme for adolescent girls in rural India.

The funding comes from Wellcome and will support a scale-up study to tailor a clinically validated digital intervention for girls facing limited autonomy, restricted access to technology, lower literacy, stigma and family gatekeeping.

Digital interventions are app-based programmes that deliver guided tools to manage anxiety and low mood, and are tested to show clinical benefit.

The study will map cultural and practical barriers to access, adapt Wysa’s content and delivery to those realities, and then test effectiveness in real-world low-to-middle-income settings.

Wysa is a global platform that combines artificial intelligence and human support to provide psychological wellbeing services.

It is used by more than seven million users across 105 countries and works with healthcare providers, employers and governments including the UK’s NHS, the Ministry of Health in Singapore, and programmes in India.

“This funding allows us to go far beyond simple translation,” said Chaitali Sinha, chief clinical and research and development officer at Wysa and the study’s principal investigator.

“By working closely with academic and community partners, we aim to co-design a digital intervention that is not only clinically effective, but genuinely usable and relevant for adolescent girls living in rural India.”

India has more than 253 million adolescents, the largest such population globally.

Around half of mental health conditions begin before age 14, and suicide is among the leading causes of death for young people.

The study team includes Aparna Joshi from Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Ceire Costelloe and Patrick Kierkegaard from Imperial College London, Dhirendra Pratap Singh from Milaan Foundation, and Becky Inkster from the University of Cambridge.

Miranda Wolpert is director of mental health at Wellcome.

She said: “We are delighted to support Wysa in their work to adapt and scale up this evidence-based digital intervention to address anxiety and depression in adolescent girls across rural India.

“This funding was awarded as part of our call to find the best ways to develop and scale digital innovations for early intervention.”