The 2023 Bridgetown Declaration on Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) and Mental Health was introduced on June 15 with the purpose of mitigating poor outcomes from deadly diseases in Small Island Developing States (SIDS). NCDs are non-infectious conditions which typically result in long-term care and treatment, accounting for 74% of all deaths globally. SIDS are disproportionately impacted by NCDs, with more than half of SIDS at a 30% risk of premature death caused by cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, or chronic respiratory disease.
For SIDS in particular, mental health issues can exacerbate existing heath outcomes. These island nations rely heavily on stable social, economical, environmental, and commercial factors in the form of external support to live comfortably. In addition to facing increasing challenges from climate change, the reliance on imported goods and commercial influences has increased. This has negatively impacted mental illness diagnoses and contributing to the vast majority of NCD-related premature deaths.
The 2023 Bridgetown Declaration on Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) and Mental Health outlines steps to address the issues facing SIDS. The World Health Organization (WHO) supports these goals, pledging to raise awareness of the risk factors in SIDS, setting up evidence-based interventions on NCDs, and funding for climate change adaptations. They stress the urgency of the matter, their objective to motivate change at this year’s upcoming UN General Assembly High-level meetings.
By Maya Yorks