World leaders at the Eightyeth United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) have adopted a landmark political declaration committing countries to combat noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health challenges through a fully integrated and equity-driven approach.

The declaration was adopted following extensive intergovernmental negotiations and was formally considered at the fourth UN High-Level Meeting on the prevention and control of NCDs and the promotion of mental health and well-being, held on September 25, 2025.

Titled “Equity and integration: transforming lives and livelihoods through leadership and action on noncommunicable diseases and the promotion of mental health and well-being,” the declaration is the first global political agreement to address NCDs and mental health together. Health experts describe it as a pivotal moment that could accelerate global action on two of the world’s most pressing and interconnected health challenges.

Noncommunicable diseases remain the leading cause of premature deaths worldwide, claiming an estimated 18 million lives every year, while mental health conditions affect more than one billion people globally.

Both are driven by common and largely preventable risk factors, including unhealthy diets, tobacco and alcohol use, physical inactivity and air pollution.

Their rising burden cuts across age groups, income levels and regions, posing serious threats not only to public health but also to productivity, livelihoods and sustainable economic growth.

For the first time, the declaration introduces concrete global outcome targets to be achieved by 2030, signalling a shift from aspirational commitments to measurable action. These include reducing the number of tobacco users globally by 150 million, ensuring that 150 million more people have their hypertension under control, and expanding access to mental health care for an additional 150 million people.

To support these outcomes, countries have also committed to strengthening their national systems over the next five years. The declaration calls for widespread adoption of policy, legislative and fiscal measures, improved access to affordable essential medicines and basic technologies at primary healthcare facilities, expanded financial protection for NCD and mental health services, operational multisectoral national plans, and stronger surveillance and monitoring systems.

Welcoming the adoption of the declaration, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the agreed targets reflect the collective determination of Member States to protect population health. He noted that coordinated global action could change the trajectory of NCDs and mental health conditions while delivering long-term health, well-being and economic opportunity.

The declaration is widely seen as the most comprehensive UN agreement to date on NCDs and mental health, drawing lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic and responding to emerging global risks. It expands the scope of NCDs to include areas such as oral health, lung health, childhood cancers, liver and kidney diseases, and rare diseases. It also places stronger emphasis on environmental determinants of health, including air pollution, exposure to lead and hazardous chemicals, and access to clean cooking solutions.

For the first time, the declaration also addresses the evolving risks associated with digital environments, including excessive screen time, harmful online content, social media exposure, and the spread of misinformation and disinformation. It sharpens regulatory commitments related to e-cigarettes, novel tobacco products, unhealthy food marketing to children, front-of-pack labelling, and the elimination of industrial trans fats from food systems.

Equity is a central pillar of the agreement, with specific attention to people living with NCDs and mental health conditions, climate-vulnerable populations, Small Island Developing States, and communities affected by conflict and humanitarian crises. The declaration recognises that these groups often bear a disproportionate burden of disease while facing the greatest barriers to care.

Against the backdrop of global economic strain and shrinking health budgets, the declaration places stronger emphasis on sustainable financing than previous agreements. It urges countries to mobilise predictable and long-term funding through increased domestic investment, strengthened international cooperation and more effective multilateral financing mechanisms.

Importantly, the declaration frames NCDs and mental health not only as health issues but as foundational to achieving sustainable development and social justice. It calls for a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, engaging civil society, youth, persons with disabilities, people with lived experience, and other stakeholders in shaping and delivering solutions.

Looking ahead, the declaration establishes a framework for accountability. The UN Secretary-General will report on global progress toward the 2030 targets ahead of the next High-Level Meeting, while the World Health Organization and other UN agencies will support countries in translating commitments into national policies and measurable action.

Health leaders say the declaration marks a turning point in global health governance, offering a clear roadmap to reduce preventable deaths, close care gaps and ensure that both physical and mental health are treated as inseparable priorities in the decade ahead.