Fourth UNGA HLM on NCDs and the Promotion of Mental Health and Well-being

The UN General Assembly (UNGA) will hold the Fourth High-level Meeting (HLM) of the UNGA on Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) and the Promotion of Mental Health and Well-being on the overall theme of ‘Equity and integration: Transforming lives and livelihoods through leadership and action on NCDs and the promotion of mental health and well-being’. The event will convene as part of the 80th session of the UNGA’s General Debate.

NCDs are the first cause of death and disability in the world. They account for 70% of all deaths. NCDs are driven primarily by five modifiable risk factors – tobacco use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, harmful use of alcohol, and air pollution. SDG target 3.4 calls for, by 2030, reducing by one-third premature mortality from NCDs through prevention and treatment and promoting mental health and well-being.

The President of the UNGA will convene the one-day meeting, which will feature an opening segment, a plenary segment for general discussion, two multi-stakeholder panels, and a brief closing segment.

The opening segment will consist of statements by the President of the UNGA, the President of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the UN Secretary-General, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), and an eminent champion of the fight against NCDs and the promotion of health and well-being. The plenary segment will feature statements by UNGA Member States and observers.

The multi-stakeholder panels will address two themes:

1. Tackling the determinants of NCDs and mental health and well-being through multisectoral and effective governance and collaborative action; and
2. Reshaping and strengthening health systems and all forms of financing to meet the needs of people living with and at risk of NCDs and mental health conditions.

The closing segment will provide summaries of the multi-stakeholder panels and concluding remarks from the UNGA President and from a person affected by NCDs or mental health conditions.

The HLM will approve a concise, action-oriented political declaration with a shared vision to mobilize political will and action at the national, regional, and international levels. The declaration is expected to build on opportunities and challenges in the implementation of previous commitments, including the consideration of measurable global targets and objectives, as appropriate.

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