World leaders have expressed overwhelming support for the text of the first United Nations global political declaration on addressing Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) and mental health in an integrated way. The declaration, negotiated over a five-month intergovernmental process, will be discussed at the 80th session of the General Assembly for final approval in October 2025.

The heads of state and health ministers met this week at the fourth United Nations General Assembly High-level Meeting on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health.

NCDs, including cardiovascular and lung diseases, cancer, and diabetes, are the leading causes of death worldwide, claiming at least 43 million lives in 2021, including 18 million people under 70 years old. Four in five (82%) of these premature deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, while mental health conditions affect over a billion people globally.

NCDs are rising in every country, impacting all communities, making them urgent concerns for public health, productivity, and sustainable economic growth.

The theme of the United Nations High-Level Meeting held on 25 September 2025 in New York was “Equity and integration: transforming lives and livelihoods through leadership and action on noncommunicable diseases and the promotion of mental health and well-being.” This declaration sets global targets to be reached by 2030, including 150 million fewer tobacco users; 150 million more people with hypertension under control; and 150 million more people with access to mental health care.

It incorporates lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic and responds to new global challenges by broadening the range of NCD areas to include oral health, lung health, childhood cancer, liver disease, kidney disease, and rare diseases; expanding on environmental determinants such as air pollution, clean cooking, lead exposure, and hazardous chemicals; and acknowledging the increasing risks of digital harms from social media use, excessive screen time, harmful content, and the dangers of mis- and disinformation.

It also emphasises a stricter regulatory focus on e-cigarettes, novel tobacco products, unhealthy food advertising to children, front-of-pack labelling, and the elimination of trans fats. Its commitments include addressing the experiences and needs of people living with NCDs and mental health conditions, climate-vulnerable populations, Small Island Developing States (SIDS), and those in humanitarian settings.