UN Adopts Historic Declaration Integrating Action on NCDs and Mental Health by 2030

NCDs—such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, and chronic respiratory diseases—remain the leading causes of premature death, claiming 18 million lives each year.

World leaders at the Eightieth United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) have adopted a groundbreaking political declaration that unites action on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health under a single, fully integrated global agenda. 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”—was endorsed during the fourth high-level meeting on NCDs and mental health on 25 September 2025, following extensive intergovernmental negotiations.

This marks the first time in UN history that NCDs and mental health have been addressed jointly in a political declaration, recognizing their interconnected nature and the shared social, environmental, and economic conditions that drive them.

A Global Crisis Affecting All Communities

NCDs—such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, and chronic respiratory diseases—remain the leading causes of premature death, claiming 18 million lives each year. Meanwhile, mental health conditions affect more than one billion people globally, contributing significantly to disability, stigma, and lost productivity.

Many risk factors—including unhealthy diets, tobacco use, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, air pollution, and digital harms—heighten both NCD and mental health burdens. With prevalence rising in every region and across all income levels, NCDs and mental health conditions are among the greatest threats to global well-being and sustainable development.

A New Era: Ambitious Global Targets for 2030

The declaration introduces the first-ever set of “fast-track” outcome targets for NCDs and mental health, to be achieved by 2030:

• 150 million fewer tobacco users

• 150 million more people with controlled hypertension

• 150 million additional people with access to mental health care

To support these goals, countries also commit to bold process targets, including:

• At least 80% of countries implementing strong regulatory and fiscal policies

• At least 80% of primary health-care facilities offering essential, affordable WHO-recommended interventions

• At least 60% of countries ensuring financial protection for essential NCD and mental health services

• At least 80% of countries adopting multisectoral national NCD and mental health plans

• At least 80% of countries operating robust surveillance and monitoring systems

WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus hailed the adoption of these targets as historic, stating that coordinated action can “change the trajectory of NCDs and mental health, and deliver health, well-being and opportunity for all.”

The Most Comprehensive Declaration to Date

The political declaration is the most far-reaching yet, expanding its scope to include critical health determinants and newly emerging risks. For the first time, the commitments cover:

Broader NCD Areas

• Oral health

• Lung health

• Childhood cancers

• Kidney and liver diseases

• Rare diseases

Environmental and Structural Determinants

• Air pollution

• Clean cooking access

• Lead and hazardous chemical exposure

Digital Determinants of Health

• Excessive screen time

• Harmful online content

• Risks from social media

• Misinformation and disinformation

The declaration also heightens regulatory focus on e-cigarettes, novel tobacco products, trans fats, and marketing of unhealthy foods to children, while strengthening commitments to nutrition labeling and healthy food policies.

Addressing Equity, Vulnerability, and Social Justice

The declaration prioritizes the needs of:

• People living with NCDs and mental health conditions

• Youth and persons with disabilities

• Small Island Developing States (SIDS)

• Climate-vulnerable communities

• Populations in humanitarian crises

It stresses that integrated solutions must advance equity, reduce avoidable suffering, and support inclusive economic development.

Financing Health in a Challenging Global Economy

Recognizing global fiscal constraints, the declaration contains the strongest financing language of any previous NCD-related document. It calls for:

• Increased domestic investment in health

• Stronger international cooperation

• Innovative blended financing

• Enhanced multilateral support

Countries are urged to secure predictable, sustained funding to scale interventions and strengthen primary health care systems.

Accountability and Global Monitoring Through 2030

To ensure follow-through, the UN Secretary-General will report on progress ahead of the next High-Level Meeting in 2030. WHO and UN partners will support Member States in delivering the commitments, monitoring targets, and ensuring accountability.

The declaration builds on a decade of global NCD action but goes further by linking health to broader societal transformation. By integrating mental health, addressing digital and environmental risks, and strengthening country systems, it lays the foundation for a healthier, more equitable, and economically resilient world.