Global Health & Wellbeing Good News
- 10 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Quick global synopsis of all the top stories during April 2026.
Education: The last 25 years were the most expansive era for schooling in history with school completion rising at every level, whilst higher education participation has more than doubled in a generation.
Natural Well-Being: In a new study, researchers surveyed 38,000 people in 75 countries and found that people with a stronger connection to nature had better well-being. This connection was not just limited to spending time outside, but about feeling a deeper relationship with the natural world. Overall, people with a relationship to nature reported higher life satisfaction, more hope and optimism, and a greater sense of purpose.
It Takes a Village: A village in Ireland has agreed to grant its children a smartphone-free youth, after 70 percent of parents opted in to the idea. The movement, called “It Takes a Village,” has since grown well beyond this small town of 22,000 residents.
Shinrin-roku: Originating in Japan, the healing powers of forest bathing are catching the attention of medical professionals in the West.
81 Percent: Share of Indian households with tap water, up from 17 percent in 2019, says the Indian Government.
16 Percent: Paraguay’s poverty rate in 2025, down from 50 percent two decades ago, says World Bank.
Hot Bath v Sauna: Saunas are popular for our health because the increased ambient heat triggers a cascade of positive effects in the body that can lower blood pressure and reduce inflammation. But, most people don't have access to a sauna. So, it's good news that new research shows that a hot bath is more beneficial than a sauna.
Refreshing Stat: 85 percent of Girl Scouts say they look up to people for what they can do - not for how they look, according to new data from Girl Scouts of the USA. “That statistic is an invitation for adults to take a deep breath and ditch the pressure to be perfect,” says the organization. The findings were based on a survey with girls between the ages of 5 and 13. “Girls are reminding us that what lasts - and what earns real admiration - is character in action: how you show up, what you try, how you treat people, and the difference you make.”
Revolutionising Life With Dementia: New lightweight smart glasses help people living with dementia remember loved ones, objects, and daily activities.
567 Million: Additional people covered by essential health services since 2018.
30: Countries that have eliminated the eye disease trachoma; Australia is the latest.
Breath of Fresh Air: A landmark smoking bill recently passed through Britain's Parliament, banning all people born after 31 Dec 2008 from ever purchasing cigarettes and vape products in the U.K. In other words, individuals currently aged 17 or younger will never be permitted to buy such products - whether it’s their 18th or 80th birthday.
Indie Bookstores: According to the American Booksellers Association, 422 new indie bookshops opened in 2025, a rise of 31 percent from 2024.
ID / Library Card: Chicago has made every public school ID a library card. This is so good. More than 315,000 public school students will gain immediate access to the cities’s libraries using existing school IDs. "With this expansion, every student - no matter their ZIP code, school enrollment or their age, will have access to library cards and programs and resources that make their lives more enriched."
