A new study has estimated that exposure to second-hand smoke contributed to 1.66 million premature deaths worldwide in 2023. According to the research, reported by IOL, children and women were among the groups disproportionately affected by second-hand smoke exposure. The findings highlight the ongoing global health burden posed by tobacco smoke beyond smokers themselves, underscoring the impact on non-smokers exposed in homes and other environments.

Ahead of World Suicide Prevention Day on 10 September, the South African Depression and Anxiety Group is urging South Africans to hold open, non-judgemental conversations about suicide. According to SADAG, the focus is on helping people recognise distress, speak supportively, and connect those at risk with professional help rather than avoiding the topic.

Global cancer cases are projected to rise by 67 per cent by 2050, according to a report cited by the Eastleigh Voice. Lung cancer was the most common cancer worldwide in 2024, recording almost 2.6 million new cases and about 1.9 million deaths. The figures highlight the growing burden of cancer on health systems globally and underscore concerns among health experts about rising incidence and mortality rates in the coming decades.

The article from Soko Directory discusses the detrimental effects of corruption, emphasizing that it not only results in financial loss but also has severe consequences for health and well-being. It references data related to Kenya's cancer burden, highlighting the estimated 44,726 new cancer cases in 2022 as part of its argument against corruption's impact on lives and futures.

According to Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, forty people have drowned in France due to heatwave-related incidents since last Thursday. This surge in drowning deaths coincides with a peak heatwave affecting Europe.

As South Africa observes National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month in September, a commentary from IOL argues that the conversation around mental health should move beyond personal resilience. According to the piece, structural barriers within society are preventing meaningful mental health support for South Africans, and addressing these systemic issues is presented as essential to improving the country's mental health outcomes.