Public Health

New York – October 30, 2026 -- Men looking for practical guidance on mental health now have a new national resource: Mediaplanet's Men's Mental Health campaign, published within USA TODAY and on the Future of Personal Health digital content hub.

Jake Shane anchors the cover story

Netflix podcaster and internet sensation Jake Shane is the publication's cover story. Editorial also comes from Howie Mandel, All-Star athlete Kevin Love, Dr. Mark Hyman and author Yung Pueblo. They share personal experiences and expert perspectives on mental health, emotional well-being, resilience and personal growth.

Munich – October 30, 2026 -- A new international patient film released for HPP Awareness Day follows three people living with hypophosphatasia (HPP): Antje from Germany, Mario from Brazil and Lisa from the USA.

The three describe years of symptoms, uncertainty and a long road to diagnosis. They also show how the rare inherited disease can affect social life, family and plans for the future, and what relief the correct diagnosis brought them.

HPP stems from low activity of one enzyme

The condition is caused by inherited, reduced activity of the enzyme alkaline phosphatase. Because the enzyme plays a role in many processes in the body, HPP can appear at any age and in very different ways. Symptoms range from muscle and joint pain, fatigue and limited mobility to repeated fractures. Depending on severity, physical stamina and independence can be sharply restricted.

Deerfield Beach – October 30, 2026 -- The youth charity Be Strong has named 16 students and alumni to its first National Student Advisory Board, a group that will help steer the organization's Never Alone campaign on youth mental health and peer support.

The board includes middle school students, high school students, and young adults. Some are current Be Strong Student Representatives and others are alumni. Members come from Colorado, Louisiana, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Iowa, Connecticut, Mississippi, New York, Texas, Ohio, and Virginia.

Never Alone aims to make help easier to find

Be Strong launched Never Alone in 2025 to close the gap between people who need help and the support available to them. The campaign combines awareness, peer leadership, immediate assistance, and pathways to ongoing care, with the goal of reaching people before struggles become crises.

ARLINGTON, Va. – October 29, 2026 -- March of Dimes' flagship fundraiser, March for Babies, has raised more than $18.1 million to date, and registration for the 2027 edition opens Nov. 1, 2026.

Now in its 56th year, the event drew over 57,000 registered participants, including families, corporate partners, volunteers, and community advocates. Fundraising continues through the rest of 2026.

Money raised funds research, education, and advocacy

March of Dimes President and CEO Cindy Rahman said the proceeds will help the nonprofit accelerate research, education, and advocacy work on pressing maternal and infant health challenges. She said the event reflects the belief that "every mom and baby deserves the opportunity to thrive."

MILLBURN, N.J. – October 29, 2026 -- Families can clear expired and unused prescription drugs out of their homes on Saturday, November 14, 2026, during the 18th Annual American Medicine Chest Challenge (AMCC) Day of Awareness of Prescription Drugs and Safe Disposal. Communities across the United States will take part in the national public health initiative.

Most misused pain relievers come from friends or relatives

According to SAMHSA's 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 42.3 percent of people age 12 or older who misused prescription pain relievers got the most recently misused medicine from a friend or relative. Taking unused, unwanted and expired medications to a collection site removes them from the home. That reduces the chance that someone takes a medicine not prescribed for them, or that a child accidentally swallows it.

Ludwigshafen -- Safer Internet Day falls on February 9, 2027, and Germany's klicksafe initiative is calling on schools, companies, authorities and clubs to register their own events now. This year's motto is "Mein Bild – Deine Grenze" ("My Image – Your Boundary"), with a focus on stopping sexualized violence online.

Sextortion and grooming are hitting more children

Sexualized deepfakes, cybergrooming and sextortion are increasingly affecting children and teenagers, according to klicksafe. Sextortion means blackmailing victims with intimate images. One example from the organizers: a girl refuses to send more photos, and the other person threatens to forward her pictures to all her contacts.

PITTSBURGH – October 29, 2026 -- Pedestrian deaths are nearly 45% higher on Halloween than on other evenings around the same time of year, so Allegheny Health Network (AHN) pediatricians are urging families to take five precautions before kids hit the streets this weekend.

Bright colors and supervision cut pedestrian risk

The 45% figure comes from the Journal of American Academy of Pediatrics. AHN advises dressing children in bright or reflective clothing and choosing costumes that fit well to reduce tripping and falls.

Children under 12, or those who need an extra set of eyes, should be supervised. Stick to well-lit streets with sidewalks, cross at designated intersections, and show your child how to dial 911 in an emergency.

WASHINGTON – October 29, 2026 -- LUNGevity Foundation's Every Breath Forward campaign will plant 60,000 white flags on the National Mall on November 1. During Lung Cancer Awareness Month, anyone can join through a home display, a volunteer shift, or a virtual dedication.

Each flag honors two lives lost to lung cancer

Each flag represents two of the more than 120,000 people who die from lung cancer in the United States every year. Volunteers will plant the flags, and a Survivor Rally will honor survivors and call for greater awareness and research.

On November 10 at 10 a.m., LUNGevity will hold a press conference on the National Mall with policymakers, survivors, advocates, researchers, and healthcare experts. Participants will call for sustained federal research funding, expanded access to lung cancer screening and early detection, and equitable access to advances in care.

Osnabrück – October 29, 2026 -- A majority of young people in Germany want influencers barred from advertising unhealthy food, according to a representative survey commissioned by the Federation of German Consumer Organisations (vzbv). In the poll, 57 percent of 14- to 25-year-olds agreed that influencers should not promote unhealthy foods.

Four in ten have bought food because an influencer recommended it

The survey also found that 40 percent of respondents have bought at least one food product because an influencer endorsed it. At the same time, 87 percent said they can easily recognize advertising on social media.

Consumer advocates say labeling is not enough

For the vzbv, those two findings together show that mandatory ad labeling falls short. The organization argues that influencer marketing works precisely because products are woven into personal stories, daily routines and seemingly authentic recommendations.

ODESSA, Texas – October 29, 2026 -- If you feel mentally slow, forgetful, or unable to concentrate for several weeks, a HelloNation article says it is worth raising with a healthcare provider. It describes brain fog as a signal that something else needs attention, not a medical diagnosis.

Stress is one of the most common triggers in adults

According to the article, stress is among the most common contributors to brain fog in adults. When the body stays in a heightened state too long, focus and memory often suffer. The article adds that the body was not designed to stay on high alert, and when stress becomes constant, cognitive symptoms often follow.

Mood and sleep also play a part, though the link is not always obvious. Anxiety and low mood can make thoughts feel scattered or slow.