Global Leaders Unite To Combat Noncommunicable Diseases, Mental Health

World leaders at the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) have adopted a global declaration to combat noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health challenges through an integrated approach.

The move followed the outcome of the intergovernmental negotiations considered by the fourth high-level meeting of the UNGA on the prevention and control of NCDs and the promotion of mental health and well-being, held on 25 September 2025.

The declaration titled, “Equity and integration: transforming lives and livelihoods through leadership and action on noncommunicable diseases and the promotion of mental health and well-being”, is the first such declaration addressing NCDs and mental health together.

It also marks a unique opportunity to accelerate global progress with a set of specific global targets for 2030, which is expected to usher in a new era in addressing some of the world’s most pressing health challenges – affecting people of all ages and income levels across the globe.

Disclosing this on its official X on Tuesday, WHO noted that the today’s leading causes of death – NCDs, claim 18 million lives prematurely every year, while mental health conditions affect over a billion people globally.

It further reiterated that NCDs are often driven by preventable risk factors such as unhealthy diets, tobacco use, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, and air pollution, of which many also negatively impact mental health.

It also stressed that both NCDs and mental health conditions are increasing in every country, affecting every community, and that makes them urgent issues not only for public health, but also for productivity and sustainable economic growth.

However, the new political declaration established three first-ever global “fast-track” outcome targets to be achieved by 2030, including 150 million fewer tobacco users, 150 million more people with hypertension under control, and 150 million more people with access to mental health care.

To ensure countries can reach these goals, the declaration also sets ambitious, measurable process targets for national systems by 2030, including; at least 80 per cent of countries with policy, legislative, regulatory and fiscal measures in place; at least 80 per cent of primary health care facilities with access to affordable, WHO-recommended essential medicines and basic technologies for NCDs and mental health.

Others include; at least 60 per cent of countries implementing financial protection policies or measures that cover or limit the cost of essential NCD and mental health services; at least 80 per cent of countries with operational, multisectoral national plans for NCDs and mental health; and at least 80 per cent of countries with robust surveillance and monitoring systems for NCDs and mental health.

Reacting, the WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, stated that the adoption of these bold targets to control noncommunicable diseases and promote mental health is a testament to the commitment of Member States to protect the health of their people. He added that the trajectory of NCDs and mental health can be changed to enable health delivery, well-being and opportunity for all.

He also highlighted the most far-reaching declaration for scope and commitment to include; to address broader NCD areas, such as oral health, lung health, childhood cancer, liver disease, kidney disease, and rare diseases.

Others include; to expanded environmental determinants, such as air pollution, clean cooking, lead exposure, and hazardous chemicals; and evolving risk of digital harms, such as social media exposure, excessive screen time, harmful content, and the risks of mis- and disinformation.

The political declaration reflects a sharper regulatory focus on e-cigarettes, novel tobacco products, unhealthy food marketing to children, front-of-pack labeling, and the elimination of trans fats.

Its commitments are grounded in a strong equity argument, including the expertise and the needs of people living with NCDs and mental health conditions, climate-vulnerable populations, Small Island Developing States (SIDS), and those in humanitarian settings.

Acknowledging strained economic conditions that threaten health financing worldwide, WHO said the declaration features stronger financing language than its predecessors. It urged countries to secure adequate, predictable and sustained funding through increased domestic financing, strengthened international partnerships, and coordinated multilateral frameworks.

It added that the declaration firmly positions NCDs and mental health as not merely health concerns, but as central pillars for achieving sustainable development and social justice.

The global health body further emphasised that the declaration underscored that solutions require a “whole-of-government” and “whole-of-society” approach, engaging civil society, partners, youth, persons with disabilities, and people with lived experience.