Speaking ahead of the High-Level Meeting on Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on September 25, WHO Director General Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus cautioned that failure to act could cost millions of lives while straining health systems and economies.
“Non-communicable diseases include 7 of the world’s top 10 causes of death. In addition, almost 1 billion people face mental health conditions, and suicide is the third leading cause of death among young people,” Dr. Tedros said.
He stressed that beyond the personal tragedies, these conditions impose enormous social and economic costs, cutting lives short, robbing families of loved ones, and driving up health expenditures.
Suicide remains a pressing concern, ranking as the fourth leading cause of death among 15–29-year-olds globally, with 73% of cases occurring in low- and middle-income countries.
In Nigeria, as of January 2024, the suicide mortality rate stood at 3.5 per 100,000 people, translating to about 15,000 deaths annually.
Over the past year, countries have been negotiating a political declaration to be finalized at the UNGA meeting. The draft sets ambitious global targets by 2030, including:
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Reducing tobacco use by 150 million people.
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Expanding access to mental health care for 150 million people.
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Ensuring 150 million people achieve control of hypertension.
Dr. Tedros emphasized that investing in prevention is not a cost but a smart economic decision, though governments often face pushback from industries profiting from harmful products.
“The message is clear,” he said. “Countries that act decisively will save millions of lives, protect families, cut health costs, and unlock economic growth.”
The High-Level Meeting is expected to produce a strong declaration that will shape international cooperation on scaling up mental health support and fighting NCDs over the next decade.
