Advocacy Roadmap: On the road to the

2025 UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs and Mental Health

Mental Health is seen as an important component of the 4th High-Level Meeting (HLM) of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in 2025. This is a rare occasion of mental health included at the core of a UNGA high-level meeting. Overall, this agenda is an urgent opportunity to secure new progressing commitments to deliver high quality, rights-based, integrated person-centred mental health services, integrated into tertiary, secondary, primary and community-based prevention and care.

2024 November

2nd WHO Symposium on Meaningful Engagement (Online)

Convening individuals living with NCDs, mental health, and neurological conditions

President of the UN General Assembly appoints 2 Co-Facilitators (Online)

Co-Facilitators will coordinate negotiations

2024 December

WHO DG's progress report to UN Secretary General (Online)

Sets out key issues related to the HLM for the WHO, informs the "zero draft"

Monthly Thematic Briefings start (New York, USA)

Thematic dialogue series for the permanent missions in New York

High-Level Meeting Modalities Resolution (Online)

Sets out name, dates, length, agenda and other key details for the HLM

2025 January

WHO Technical Elements Paper to guide negotiations (Online)

Led by the WHO Office at the UN, for the 2 Co-Facilitators

UN Secretary-General submits report to the UN General Assembly (Online)

Informs the "zero draft"

WHO Executive Board Meeting (Geneva, Switzerland)

Sets the agenda for the World Health Assembly and the resolutions to be considered

2025 February

NCD Alliance global meeting (Kigali, Rwanda)

Global gathering of civil society organisations focused on NCDs

2025 April

2nd general meeting of the Global Coordination Mechanism on NCDs (Online)

Fostering a united and inclusive approach to tackling NCDs

3rd WHO Symposium on Meaningful Engagement (Online)

With key messages for the HLM

Political Declaration Zero Draft (Online)

Intended to serve as a starting point for the intergovernmental deliberations this year

2025 May

World Health Assembly (Geneva, Switzerland)

The decision-making body of WHO

High-Level Meeting Multi-Stakeholder Hearing (New York, USA)

Opportunity for stakeholders to contribute to the ongoing preparatory process for the HLM

2025 June

Further negotiations on declaration (Online)

To inform the final political declaration

G7 Summit (Canada)

Health is part of the conversations, important for aligning messages

2025 September

UN High-Level Meeting (New York, USA)

The HLM taking place during UNGA High-Level Week

Recommended links:

World Health Organization, On the Road to 2025.

World Health Organization, How to get involved and consultation opportunities.

United for Global Mental Health, Reporting back: the International Dialogue on Sustainable Financing for NCDs & Mental Health.

If you are interested in following this work, please first ensure you are a member of the Global Mental Health Action Network by Signing up here, and email the Secretariat at admin@gmhan.org.