Mental Health takes centre stage at the United Nations #UNGA80
For the first time ever, mental health care is the focus of an official meeting of the General Assembly. On 25 September 2025, with world leaders gathering at the UN High-level week, health experts and Member States met to agree on a set of principles designed to drive global action to help alleviate the symptoms of those living with a complex variety of disorders.
Although the subject of mental health has been raised in previous years, it will get top billing at the event, which will also cover the prevention and control of other noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), such as cardiovascular illnesses, cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases.
NCDs remain the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. They are closely connected: for many people, physical and mental conditions overlap, demanding integrated approaches to care.