public health groups

A coalition of civil society organisations has issued a joint statement for International Safe Abortion Day 2026, declaring that safe abortion is essential healthcare and issuing a call to action. The statement urges governments and health systems to treat abortion access as a fundamental part of medical care and human rights, adding to ongoing global advocacy around reproductive rights.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed new legislation strengthening the state's laws on mentally disordered offenders. The measure changes how offenders with mental disorders are handled after commitment, and it is being welcomed by prosecutors including the Riverside County District Attorney's Office, which highlighted the signing. Supporters say the law closes gaps in public safety and treatment oversight for this group of offenders.

A Mental Health Monday segment reports that veterans are using ketamine as a treatment for depression. The coverage highlights the drug's growing role in addressing depression among former service members, a group that faces elevated rates of the condition. The segment reflects wider attention to alternative therapies where conventional antidepressants have fallen short.

The Berlin Buyers Club has published an open letter calling on Germany's Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO), the Federal Joint Committee and Federal Health Minister Nina Warken's predecessor office, currently led by Linnemann, to make adapted COVID-19 vaccines accessible now. The group is demanding science-based vaccination recommendations and faster availability of updated shots for those who want them.

Evangelical Christian leaders are calling on the Trump administration to release billions of dollars in US global health funding that has been frozen, warning the delay jeopardises aid programs such as those fighting disease and supporting vulnerable communities abroad, including in Sudan. The appeal highlights growing concern among faith-based groups that halted funds are undermining humanitarian and health work they support.

Health leaders from across Michigan gathered in Lansing for a conference addressing the state's ongoing substance use crisis. Attendees discussed strategies for prevention, treatment and recovery support as overdose concerns continue to affect communities statewide. Organizers say the event aims to coordinate responses among public health officials, providers and community groups.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health is rescinding its proposed disease regulations after significant public opposition. The withdrawal comes amid criticism from residents and advocacy groups who pushed back against the rules. Officials have not outlined what, if anything, will replace the proposed regulations, leaving questions about future disease control policy in the state.

The health and care working group of Germany's Pirate Party is calling on the Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) to revise its recommendation on COVID-19 vaccination. It wants broad vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 to be reinstated in the catalogue of recommended immunisations, arguing the current guidance no longer reflects the need for widespread protection.

Environmental and public health organizations have filed a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency over its rollback of regulations on power plant emissions. The groups argue the loosened rules threaten air quality and public health. The legal challenge escalates a fight over US environmental policy, with advocacy groups seeking to force stricter limits on pollution from power plants through the courts.

Public health experts are raising concerns about the consequences of cutting DEI-related health research funding. When studies focused on health disparities and underserved communities lose support, gaps in knowledge about which groups face worse health outcomes widen, and interventions tailored to those communities may be abandoned. Commentators argue the effects could include reduced preventive care, less accurate data, and widening inequalities in disease prevention and treatment across vulnerable populations.

The Bar Harbor Garden Club will host a presentation titled 'The State of Maine's Loons' at its October 8 meeting. The announcement was reported by the Mount Desert Islander, which covers Maine's Mount Desert Island region. The event highlights local interest in loon conservation and the health of Maine's loon populations, a topic of ongoing concern for wildlife groups and lakeside communities in the state.

Families USA has launched 'Stop the Bleed: Cut Costs, Not Care', an effort to get candidates on the record about high health care costs ahead of the midterm elections. The campaign aims to force those seeking office to commit publicly to lowering costs for patients without cutting the quality or availability of care. It adds health care affordability to the list of issues voters may press candidates on this election season.

September 28 is International Safe Abortion Day, marked globally by advocates, health organisations and some governments calling for access to safe, legal abortion and highlighting the dangers of unsafe procedures. France's foreign ministry was among those publicly acknowledging the day, joining wider debates over reproductive rights in several countries.

A new study published in Nature examines a multiethnic US population and finds that pro-inflammatory cytokines may mediate the association between depression, anxiety, and cardiometabolic disorders such as heart disease and diabetes. The findings suggest inflammation could be a biological pathway explaining why mental health conditions raise the risk of metabolic and cardiovascular illness across diverse ethnic groups.