UN Adopts First Joint Declaration on NCDs, Mental Health

World leaders meeting at the 18th UN General Assembly have adopted a new political declaration that brings noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health under a single, integrated global framework, setting measurable targets for 2030.

The declaration, approved following intergovernmental negotiations, represents the first time both agendas have been addressed together in a formal UN commitment. Titled “Equity and integration: transforming lives and livelihoods through leadership and action on NCDs and the promotion of mental health and well-being,” the text aims to accelerate progress on some of the most persistent global health challenges.

NCDs remain the leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for an estimated 18 million premature deaths each year. At the same time, mental health conditions affect over 1 billion people globally. Both trends are rising across regions and income levels, driven in part by preventable risk factors such as unhealthy diets, tobacco use, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, and exposure to air pollution. These same factors also affect productivity and long-term economic growth, placing NCDs and mental health at the center of sustainable development debates.

A key shift in the new declaration is the introduction of three global “fast-track” outcome targets for 2030. Member States committed to reducing the number of tobacco users by 150 million, increasing by 150 million the number of people with controlled hypertension, and expanding access to mental health care to an additional 150 million people. These targets are intended to provide a clear benchmark for assessing progress over the next five years.

To support implementation, the declaration also outlines system-level process targets. By 2030, at least 80% of countries are expected to have policy, legislative, regulatory, and fiscal measures in place to address NCDs and mental health. Similar coverage is sought for access to affordable essential medicines and basic technologies at the primary care level, as well as for operational, multisectoral national plans, and surveillance systems. Financial protection measures to limit or cover the cost of essential services are expected to be in place in at least 60% of countries.

Tedros Adhanom, Director General, WHO, says the adoption of quantified targets signals a renewed commitment by Member States to change the trajectory of both NCDs and mental health, framing the agenda as essential to health, well-being, and opportunity.

Beyond targets, the declaration expands the scope of global action. For the first time, it explicitly includes areas such as oral and lung health, childhood cancer, liver and kidney disease, and rare diseases. It also broadens attention to environmental determinants, including air pollution, clean cooking, lead exposure, and hazardous chemicals, while addressing emerging risks linked to digital environments, such as harmful online content, excessive screen time, and misinformation.

Regulatory measures receive increased emphasis, particularly around e-cigarettes and novel tobacco products, the marketing of unhealthy foods to children, front-of-pack labeling, and the elimination of industrial trans fats. Equity considerations run throughout the text, highlighting the needs of people living with NCDs and mental health conditions, climate-vulnerable populations, Small Island Developing States, and communities affected by humanitarian crises.

The declaration also responds to economic pressures that threaten health financing. It calls for adequate, predictable, and sustained funding through greater domestic investment, stronger international partnerships, and coordinated multilateral action. In doing so, it frames NCDs and mental health not only as health issues, but as core components of social justice and economic resilience, requiring whole-of-government and whole-of-society engagement.

Looking ahead, the UN is expected to report on progress toward the 2030 targets ahead of the next high-level meeting. WHO and other UN agencies will support Member States in translating the commitments into national policies and programs, with accountability mechanisms designed to track impact over time.