Pertubuhan Sains & Kesejahteraan
Science & Wellness Organisation
(PPM-013-05-16022012)
Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council
Mental health is a fundamental component of overall health and well-being. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it enables individuals to cope with life’s stresses, realize their potential, work productively, and contribute to their communities. Mental health has intrinsic and instrumental value, and is recognized as a basic human right.
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Mental health conditions are common, affect people across all ages and societies, and are closely linked to social, economic, and environmental factors. Despite their widespread impact, mental health remains one of the most under-recognized and under-addressed areas of public health.
What Influences Mental Health
Image source: Unsplash - Photo by MD Duran
Mental health is shaped by a complex interaction of factors at multiple levels:
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Individual factors such as substance use, emotional skills, and genetics influence vulnerability.
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Social and environmental factors, including poverty, violence, inequality, inequality, and environmental deprivation can undermine mental health.
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Protective factors such as supportive relationships, access to education, safe environments, and decent work play a critical role in strengthening mental well-being and reducing risk across the life course.
Promotion and Prevention of Mental Health Conditions
Image source: Unsplash - Photo by MD Duran
Mental health promotion and prevention are key components of efforts to improve population mental health. Promotion focuses on strengthening mental well-being, while prevention aims to reduce the risk of mental health conditions.
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Mental health promotion and prevention involve addressing the factors that influence mental health throughout the life course. These factors include social, economic, and environmental conditions that affect how people live, work, and interact within their communities.
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Actions to promote mental health and prevent mental health conditions are not limited to the health sector alone. They require coordinated efforts across multiple sectors, including education, employment, social protection, and other areas of public policy that shape living conditions and opportunities.
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Incorporating promotion and prevention into mental health policies, strategies, and programmes is an important part of strengthening mental health systems. Such approaches support better mental health outcomes at the population level and contribute to reducing the overall burden of mental health conditions.
The Global Burden of Mental Health Conditions
More than one billion people worldwide are living with a mental health condition.
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More than
1 billion
people worldwide are living with a mental health condition.
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Mental health conditions include mental disorders, psychosocial disabilities, and other states associated with significant distress, impaired functioning, or risk of self-harm.
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Many mental health conditions can be effectively treated at relatively low cost, but health systems are often under-resourced, leaving large treatment gaps worldwide.
Source: World Health Organization (WHO)
Health Effects of Household Air Pollution
WHO identifies household air pollution as a leading risk factor for both noncommunicable and infectious diseases.​
Respiratory Diseases
WHO reports that exposure to household air pollution increases the risk of:
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Acute lower respiratory infections, including pneumonia
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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
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Tuberculosis
WHO estimates that around 45% of pneumonia deaths in children under five are attributable to household air pollution exposure
Image source: Unsplash - Photo by Aakash Dhage
Cardiovascular Diseases
WHO has identified household air pollution as a risk factor for:
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Ischaemic heart disease
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Stroke
These cardiovascular conditions account for a substantial share of household air pollution related deaths globally.
Image source: Unsplash - Photo by Europeana
Cancer
WHO has identified household air pollution as a risk factor for:
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Lung cancer, particularly from exposure to coal and biomass smoke
WHO also reports emerging evidence linking household air pollution exposure to non-lung cancers, including:
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Nasopharyngeal cancer
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Laryngeal cancer
WHO notes that evidence for these cancers is growing and continues to be evaluated.
Image source: Unsplash - Photo by National Cancer Institute
Pregnancy, Infant, and Child Health Outcomes
WHO reports that household air pollution exposure is associated with:
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Low birth weight
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Preterm birth
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Small for gestational age births
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Child growth faltering, including stunting and undernutrition
Prenatal exposure has also been linked to impaired lung function development and increased respiratory infections in early childhood.
Image source: Unsplash - Photo by Blond Fox
Other Health Effects
WHO has identified household air pollution as a risk factor for:
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Cataract
WHO also reports emerging evidence linking household air pollution exposure to:
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Cognitive impairment
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Diabetes
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Decreased renal function
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Cellular ageing
WHO highlights that the full health burden of household air pollution is likely underestimated, as evidence continues to develop beyond traditionally recognised health outcomes.
Image source: Unsplash - Photo by Blond Fox
Populations at Higher Risk
Image source: Unsplash - Photo by Ajoy Das
Exposure to household air pollution does not affect everyone equally. Certain groups face significantly higher risks due to longer exposure durations, biological vulnerability, or living conditions.
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Those most affected include:
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Women - who are often responsible for cooking and therefore experience prolonged exposure
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Infants and young children - whose lungs and immune systems are still developing
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Older people - particularly those with reduced lung or heart function
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People with underlying health conditions - such as respiratory or cardiovascular disease
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Refugee and migrant communities - where access to clean fuels and safe cooking technologies may be limited
These groups often experience higher exposure levels and more severe health consequences.
Clean Household Energy: A Proven Solution
The most effective way to reduce household air pollution is a transition to clean household energy.
Clean fuels and technologies include:
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Electricity
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Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)
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Biogas
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Solar
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Alcohol
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Advanced biomass stoves that meet emission guideline levels
WHO intervention trials show that clean cooking solutions can reduce exposure to harmful air pollutants by 60–80% or more, provided they are used consistently.
Why Household Air Pollution is a Broader Public Health Issue
Household air pollution is not confined to the home. Its impacts extend to the wider environment and society, creating risks that go beyond individual health.
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It:
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Worsens ambient (outdoor) air quality- as pollutants released indoors disperse into surrounding communities
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Contributes to global climate change - particularly through emissions of black carbon
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Has gendered livelihood impacts - as women are often disproportionately affected through time spent cooking, fuel collection, and exposure
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Degrades the local environment - including deforestation and ecosystem damage linked to fuel use
Reducing household air pollution therefore delivers health, environmental, and social benefits simultaneously, making it a critical public health and sustainability issue.
Public Health Implications
Household air pollution remains a major but preventable threat to health, particularly for women, children, and vulnerable communities. Improving indoor air quality through access to clean household energy is essential to reducing disease, protecting early childhood development, and preventing avoidable deaths.
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In response to these challenges, the Science & Wellness Organisation (SWO) is advancing its Global Clean Air Campaign, with a strong focus on disease prevention, public education, and evidence-based action. The campaign seeks to address health risks associated with air pollution by strengthening awareness of preventive measures, supporting informed decision-making, and reinforcing clean air as a fundamental public health priority.
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Ensuring clean air in homes and communities is critical to protecting population health, reducing preventable disease, and supporting long-term societal well-being.