The World Health Organisation has raised alarm over the rising toll of noncommunicable diseases and mental health challenges, warning that suicide has become the third leading cause of death among young people.
WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, in a video message on Saturday ahead of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, stressed the urgency of global action.
“Noncommunicable diseases, or NCDs, include seven of the world’s top ten causes of death, such as cancers, heart disease, diabetes, and chronic respiratory disease,” Ghebreyesus said. “In addition, more than one billion people face mental health conditions, and suicide is the third leading cause of death among young people.”
He explained that beyond the personal tragedies, the economic and social consequences of NCDs and mental health disorders are enormous.
“Apart from cutting lives short and robbing families of their loved ones, these deaths also incur huge costs for health systems and economies,” he noted.
The WHO chief disclosed that member states have been negotiating a political declaration over the past year, which will be adopted at the UNGA high-level meeting on September 25.
The draft sets ambitious global targets for 2030, including reducing tobacco use by 150 million people, expanding access to mental health services for another 150 million, and ensuring that 150 million people achieve control over hypertension.
He further urged governments to resist pressure from industries profiting from unhealthy products.
“Investing in NCD prevention is not a cost,” Ghebreyesus 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.”
According to WHO data, more than 700,000 people die by suicide annually worldwide, with the majority of cases recorded in low- and middle-income countries. Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among individuals aged 15 to 29, and Nigeria’s suicide mortality rate stood at 3.5 per 100,000 people as of January 2024—equating to about 15,000 deaths each year.
“The message is clear,” Ghebreyesus concluded. “Countries that act decisively will save millions of lives, protect families, cut health costs, and unlock economic growth.”
The UNGA meeting is expected to produce a strong declaration that will shape global cooperation on curbing NCDs and expanding mental health support over the next decade.
