Helen Coffey

As evidence mounts that devices are sparking a mental health crisis in young people, ‘Adolescence’ writer Jack Thorne says he thinks smartphone sales should be banned for under 16s. Helen Coffey asks whether social media and tech are really to blame – and what parents can do about it

Getting stuck in the same old routine is the enemy of making new memories. In a bid to abate time’s relentless pace, Helen Coffey embraced new hobbies and activities at the start of 2025 – but did it work?

Is age really just a number – and could being too strict about it be holding you back from meeting your perfect partner? Helen Coffey digs into the data to find out whether age gaps have gone from taboo to the new normal

More of us are getting medical advice and wellness tips from social media. But with influencers promoting information that ranges from misleading to downright fraudulent, Helen Coffey investigates why we’re willing to put our health in the hands of unqualified strangers

Between body positivity and weight-loss jabs, admitting to counting calories can feel like a source of shame. Helen Coffey investigates our shifting relationship with ‘diet culture’ and argues that thinking about how we fuel our bodies shouldn’t automatically be demonised

A common misconception sees anorexia associated with teenagers, but hormonal and physical changes in perimenopause can also lead to a difficult relationship with food and our bodies. Helen Coffey asks the experts how to spot the signs

A new Netflix series dramatises the real-life story of Belle Gibson, the Australian wellness influencer who built an empire off the back of a non-existent brain tumour. Helen Coffey sorts reality from fantasy by digging into the bizarre true events that inspired the show

Helen Coffey checks in

The thorny issue of popular cities and beauty spots being inundated with visitors is something that frequently raises its head. Helen Coffey picks out some just-as-worthwhile alternatives to the traditional hotspots

Nearly a million of us in the UK have signed up to apps where we can embark upon fake ‘relationships’ with chatbot characters. Disappointed by real men, Helen Coffey dives in to see whether a fake partner can really enhance her life