WHO Warns Nearly One Billion People Live With Mental Health Conditions.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that nearly one billion people globally are living with mental health conditions and urged governments to take urgent action to address the crisis.
WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, issued the warning ahead of the High-Level Meeting on Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) and Mental Health scheduled for September 25. He cautioned that inaction would cost millions of lives while placing severe strain on economies.
“Noncommunicable diseases account for seven of the world’s top 10 causes of death. Alongside this, almost one billion people face mental health challenges, with suicide ranking as the third leading cause of death among young people,” he said.
Dr. Ghebreyesus stressed that beyond personal tragedies, the impact of NCDs and mental health conditions carries devastating social and economic consequences. “These illnesses shorten lives, devastate families, and drive up health care and economic costs,” he added.
Globally, suicide ranks as the fourth leading cause of death among people aged 15–29, with 73% of cases occurring in low- and middle-income countries. In Nigeria, as of January 2024, the submortality rate stood at 3.5 per 100,000, translating to about 15,000 deaths annually.
The WHO chief revealed that countries have been negotiating a political declaration over the past year, which will be finalised at the UN General Assembly. The draft sets ambitious global targets for 2030, including cutting tobacco use by 150 million people, expanding mental health care access for another 150 million, and ensuring 150 million more achieve control of hypertension.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that nearly one billion people globally are living with mental health conditions and urged governments to take urgent action to address the crisis.
WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, issued the warning ahead of the High-Level Meeting on Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) and Mental Health scheduled for September 25. He cautioned that inaction would cost millions of lives while placing severe strain on economies.
“Noncommunicable diseases account for seven of the world’s top 10 causes of death. Alongside this, almost one billion people face mental health challenges, with suicide ranking as the third leading cause of death among young people,” he said.
Dr. Ghebreyesus stressed that beyond personal tragedies, the impact of NCDs and mental health conditions carries devastating social and economic consequences. “These illnesses shorten lives, devastate families, and drive up health care and economic costs,” he added.
Globally, suicide ranks as the fourth leading cause of death among people aged 15–29, with 73% of cases occurring in low- and middle-income countries. In Nigeria, as of January 2024, the submortality rate stood at 3.5 per 100,000, translating to about 15,000 deaths annually.
The WHO chief revealed that countries have been negotiating a political declaration over the past year, which will be finalised at the UN General Assembly. The draft sets ambitious global targets for 2030, including cutting tobacco use by 150 million people, expanding mental health care access for another 150 million, and ensuring 150 million more achieve control of hypertension.
WHO Warns Nearly One Billion People Live With Mental Health Conditions.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that nearly one billion people globally are living with mental health conditions and urged governments to take urgent action to address the crisis.
WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, issued the warning ahead of the High-Level Meeting on Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) and Mental Health scheduled for September 25. He cautioned that inaction would cost millions of lives while placing severe strain on economies.
“Noncommunicable diseases account for seven of the world’s top 10 causes of death. Alongside this, almost one billion people face mental health challenges, with suicide ranking as the third leading cause of death among young people,” he said.
Dr. Ghebreyesus stressed that beyond personal tragedies, the impact of NCDs and mental health conditions carries devastating social and economic consequences. “These illnesses shorten lives, devastate families, and drive up health care and economic costs,” he added.
Globally, suicide ranks as the fourth leading cause of death among people aged 15–29, with 73% of cases occurring in low- and middle-income countries. In Nigeria, as of January 2024, the submortality rate stood at 3.5 per 100,000, translating to about 15,000 deaths annually.
The WHO chief revealed that countries have been negotiating a political declaration over the past year, which will be finalised at the UN General Assembly. The draft sets ambitious global targets for 2030, including cutting tobacco use by 150 million people, expanding mental health care access for another 150 million, and ensuring 150 million more achieve control of hypertension.
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