It has long been blamed for creating a nation of couch potatoes. But a new report today claims that Britain’s love affair with television is causing far more damage – both physically and psychologically – than previously thought.

Scotland has topped a European league table of countries providing specialist support to victims of crime. A study showed of those who suffered a burglary, robbery, sexual attack or assault, 22% received specialist support to help them cope. This compares with an average of 7% in Europe and 16% across the UK.

Leading learning disabilities charity Cornerstone Community Care has announced that it is set to close a large part of one of its services in Aberdeen because of a failure by Aberdeen City Council to properly fund the service. The service affected – Cornerstone’s Aberdeen Community Support Service – supports 108 people with learning disabilities and other special needs and employs 48 people.

The risk of dying young is growing in Scotland despite greater wealth and major advances in healthcare. A shocking report published today reveals violence, drugs, alcohol and suicide mean men are now more likely to die in their 20s and 30s than 20 years ago.

The legal age of consent should be lowered from 16 to 14 for young people who are less than two years apart in age, according to an academic. Dr Matthew Waites, a lecturer in sociology at Glasgow University, said criminalising all consensual sexual activity up to 16 was not appropriate.

A new Bill that offers greater protection to adults at risk of abuse has been approved by MSPs. The Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Bill will give new powers and a statutory responsibility to local agencies to investigate any risk of harm or abuse to adults living in care homes or in the community.

Death rates in Scotland are falling faster in more affluent areas than in poorer places, a study says. The Medical Research Council looked at census data and deaths over the last 20 years, and found the proportion of under-65s dying had fallen by a third.

Scotland’s leading child welfare experts have called for immediate and radical action to improve children’s wellbeing after the UK came bottom of a Unicef report on welfare.

Too often the human cost of cuts to social work services remains hidden. Those affected are usually vulnerable and understandably prefer to protect their anonymity, making it more difficult for councillors to see the results of their decisions and less likely that the public will object to the latest “rationalisation”.

A charity last night warned it was sliding deep into the red in the latest sign of financial crisis in Scotland’s voluntary sector. Cornerstone, which turns over £26million a year supporting children and adults with learning difficulties, said it could end this year with a deficit running into hundreds of thousands of pounds.