The WHO has warned that nearly 1 billion people worldwide face mental health conditions, urging bold political action ahead of the UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs and Mental Health
WHO Warns Nearly 1 Billion People Face Mental Health Challenges, Calls for Bold Global Action
The World Health Organization (WHO) has sounded the alarm that nearly 1 billion people globally face mental health conditions, urging governments to take urgent and decisive steps to address the crisis.
Director-General Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus issued the warning ahead of the High-Level Meeting on Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) and Mental Health at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) scheduled for September 25.
He cautioned that without bold interventions, millions of lives would be lost, while economies would suffer heavy strain.
“Non-communicable diseases include seven of the world’s top 10 causes of death. In addition, almost 1 billion people face mental health conditions,” Dr Tedros said. “Countries that act decisively to beat NCDs will save millions of lives, protect families, cut health costs, and unlock economic growth.”
The WHO chief stressed that mental health is inseparable from economic stability, pointing out that suicide is the third leading cause of death among young people worldwide. Globally, suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among 15–29-year-olds, with 73% of cases occurring in low- and middle-income countries.
In Nigeria alone, as of January 2024, the suicide mortality rate stood at 3.5 per 100,000 people, amounting to an estimated 15,000 deaths annually.
Dr Tedros noted that countries have been negotiating a political declaration over the past year, which will be finalised at the UNGA meeting. The draft sets ambitious global targets by 2030, including:
- Reducing tobacco use by 150 million people
- Expanding mental health care access for 150 million people
- Ensuring 150 million people achieve control of hypertension
“Investing in NCD prevention is not a cost,” he emphasised. “It’s one of the smartest economic decisions any government can make. But often, governments face fierce opposition from industries that profit from unhealthy products.”
The UNGA High-Level Meeting is expected to produce a strong political declaration that will shape international cooperation on combating NCDs and scaling up mental health support over the next decade. Read More
