At the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), world leaders adopted a historic political declaration on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health.

Global Burden of the Problem

• Mortality from NCDs: NCDs cause 18 million premature deaths annually worldwide.
• Mental Health Impact: Mental health conditions affect over one billion people globally, making them a major public health concern.
• Key Risk Factors: The primary drivers of this burden include unhealthy diets, tobacco use, harmful alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, and air pollution, all of which also have adverse effects on mental well-being.
• Socio-Economic Consequences: The rising burden impacts public health, productivity, and sustainable economic growth across all countries.

About the Declaration

• Title:  “Equity and integration: transforming lives and livelihoods through leadership and action on noncommunicable diseases and the promotion of mental health and well-being”.
• Historic Significance: It is the first global political declaration to address NCDs and mental health together.
• Shift in Global Health Approach: The declaration marks a decisive shift towards a fully integrated and equity-driven global health approach.
• Time-Bound Global Targets: It sets out specific, measurable global targets for 2030, creating a framework for accelerated action.

Scope of the Declaration

• New NCD areas: New disease areas included for the first time, such as Oral health, Lung health, Childhood cancer, Liver and kidney diseases, Rare diseases
• Environmental determinants: Broader environmental determinants addressed, including Air pollution, Clean cooking fuels, Lead exposure, Hazardous chemicals
• Digital health risks: Digital health risks recognised, such as Excessive screen time, Harmful online content, Social media exposure, Misinformation and disinformation
• Regulatory and Equity Commitments: Stronger regulatory focus on E-cigarettes and novel tobacco products, Unhealthy food marketing to children, Front-of-pack food labelling, Elimination of industrial trans fats
• Equity Commitments: Emphasises equity, incorporating the needs of People living with NCDs and mental health conditions, Climate-vulnerable populations, Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Populations in humanitarian settings
• Accountability: 
  • The UN Secretary-General will report on progress towards the 2030 targets ahead of the next High-Level Meeting.
  • WHO and other UN agencies will support Member States in translating commitments into national action plans.

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Financing and Governance Approach

• Recognises global fiscal constraints threatening health financing.
• Calls for adequate, predictable and sustained funding through:
  • Increased domestic financing
  • Strengthened international partnerships
  • Coordinated multilateral frameworks
• Positions NCDs and mental health as core to sustainable development and social justice.
• Advocates a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, involving civil society, youth, persons with disabilities, and those with lived experience.

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