Mental health and global strategies to reduce NCDs and premature mortality

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of death worldwide and are responsible for a large proportion of premature mortality. NCDs are largely preventable and global action plans have aimed to reduce the burden of NCDs through targeted action on risk factors for the main NCD categories: cardiovascular diseases, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes. In particular, WHO has put forth the global action plan for the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases 2013–20,1 which has among its goals a 25% relative reduction in premature mortality due to NCDs by 2025 (so-called the 25 × 25 goal) through targeted action on seven risk factors (tobacco use, harmful use of alcohol, physical inactivity, sodium intake, raised blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes).