The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a stark warning that nearly one billion people worldwide are living with mental health conditions, urging governments to take urgent and decisive action ahead of a critical United Nations meeting later this month.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus sounded the alarm ahead of the High-Level Meeting on Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) and Mental Health, set for September 25 during the UN General Assembly in New York. He emphasized that failure to address these issues would cost millions of lives and place unsustainable strain on fragile economies.
“Non-communicable diseases account for seven of the world’s top 10 causes of death. In addition, almost one billion people face mental health conditions,” Dr. Ghebreyesus said. “Countries that act decisively to beat NCDs will save millions of lives, protect families, cut health costs, and unlock economic growth.”
Highlighting the devastating human impact, the WHO chief noted that suicide is now the third leading cause of death among young people globally, ranking fourth among those aged 15 to 29—with 73% of cases occurring in low- and middle-income countries. In Nigeria alone, the suicide mortality rate was 3.5 per 100,000 people as of January 2024, equating to approximately 15,000 deaths annually.
Beyond loss of life, Dr. Ghebreyesus warned of the vast economic and social costs of NCDs and mental health challenges.
“These conditions not only cut lives short and devastate families but also impose enormous costs on health systems and economies,” he said.
Over the past year, WHO member states have been negotiating a political declaration to be finalized at the upcoming UNGA session. The draft declaration sets ambitious global health targets for 2030, including reducing tobacco use by 150 million people, expanding mental health care access for 150 million individuals, and ensuring 150 million people achieve hypertension control.
Dr. Ghebreyesus stressed that investing in prevention is both a moral duty and an economic imperative.
“Investing in NCD prevention is not a cost; it’s one of the smartest economic decisions governments can make. However, governments often face strong opposition from industries profiting from unhealthy products,” he said, calling for bold leadership to overcome political and commercial resistance.
The September 25 meeting is expected to produce a strong political declaration guiding global cooperation on NCDs and mental health for the next decade. Experts warn that continued inaction risks collapsing health systems and worsening global inequalities.
