The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised alarm that nearly one billion people worldwide are living with mental health conditions, urging governments to take urgent action to tackle the growing 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 failure to act would not only cost millions of lives but also impose severe economic burdens on nations.
“Noncommunicable diseases account for seven of the world’s top ten 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,” Dr. Ghebreyesus said.
He stressed that beyond personal tragedies, the impact of NCDs and mental health issues carries devastating social and economic consequences. “These illnesses shorten lives, devastate families, and drive up health care and economic costs,” he added.
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Globally, suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among people aged 15–29, with 73 percent of cases recorded in low- and middle-income countries. In Nigeria, the suicide mortality rate as of January 2024 stood at 3.5 per 100,000, translating to about 15,000 deaths annually.
According to Dr. Ghebreyesus, countries have been negotiating a political declaration over the past year that is expected to be finalised at the upcoming UN General Assembly. The draft targets for 2030 include cutting tobacco use by 150 million people, expanding mental health care access for another 150 million, and ensuring 150 million more achieve effective control of hypertension.