Highlights from the 4th UN High Level Meeting on NCDs and Mental Health

by HCC

Highlights from the 4th UN High Level Meeting on NCDs and Mental Health held on 25 September 2025 (HLM4) under the theme “Equity and integration: transforming lives and livelihoods through leadership and action on noncommunicable diseases and the promotion of mental health and well-being.”

Her Excellency Inga Rhonda King, Permanent Representative of the Saint Vincent and Grenadines

HCC sends warm congratulations to Her Excellency Inga Rhonda King, Permanent Representative of the Saint Vincent and Grenadines to the United Nations in New York for her stewardship of the HLM4 process in her capacity as Co-Facilitator; and to CARICOM Permanent Missions of Saint Kitts and Nevis and Guyana for their roles as CARICOM Lead Negotiator and G77 Co-negotiator respectively.

CARICOM Secretariat in partnership with PAHO, CARPHA and HCC hosted a successful high-level side event at the HLM4 attended by many including: CARICOM Secretary General Dr. Carla Barnett; The Hon. Philip Davis Prime Minister of The Bahamas; The Hon Dickon Mitchell Prime Minister of Grenada; Dr. The Honourable Christopher Tufton, Minister of Health of Jamaica; Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, PAHO/WHO Director; Dr. Lisa Indar, Executive Director of CARPHA and key global partners including NCD Alliance and the World Bank.

PM Davis delivered outstanding opening remarks addressing a range of issues including mental health and the intersection with climate change and the commercial determinants of health, stating that ‘regulation of harmful commercial practices is not a luxury it is protection of our citizens’ and ‘ we must confront the commercial forces driving diseases’. Prime Minister Mitchell of Grenada praised HEARTS and underscored the shared risk factors for mental health and NCDS and the need to place measures in place to identify risk of harm and suicide in young people.  The Honourable Minister Tufton wrapped up the event highlighting the importance of Caribbean solidarity.

HCC President Dr. Kenneth Connnell and Executive Director attended the HLM4 and participated in the Plenary Session and the 1st Multistakeholder panel where Dr. Connell delivered an intervention from the floor. You can view Dr. Connell’s reading of the intervention here.

CARICOM Representation at the Plenary Session: Nine (9) CARICOM countries represented by Heads of Government and Ministers of Health delivered remarks during the Plenary session: The Republic of Suriname, Saint Kitts and Nevis on behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Antigua and Barbuda, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, and Guyana. Hon PM Drew presented comments on behalf of CARICOM. His remarks acknowledged the important role of civil society with a specific mention of Healthy Caribbean Coalition. PM Drew in his comments also noted with concern that the Political Declaration did not reflect the urgency of the NCD crisis pointing to insufficiently bold targets.

To see all of the country interventions, check out the recording of the plenary session here.

Visit the HLM4 WHO Media page here.

For more on the HLM4 visit the WHO page here where you can also view recordings from the plenary and the 2 panels.

  1. COHSOD
    1. HCC participated in the 50th Meeting of the COHSOD in Washington DC 26-27 September, represented by Laura Tucker Longsworth – former HCC Board Member and current NCD Alliance Board Member. The COHSOD is an opportunity for HCC to interface with Ministers of Health and key regional actors such as PAHO and CARPHA. HCC delivered a brief intervention on NCDs and post HLM4 priorities.
      1. Laura Pics to send via WhatsApp
    2. PAHO 62nd Directing Council
      1. With the support of the NCD Alliance, Laura Tucker Longsworth also represented the HCC at the PAHO 62nd Directing council along with other civil society advocates including CLAS. One of the key agenda items was the approval of the Plan of Action on Noncommunicable Disease Prevention and Control 2025–2030. HCC and partners including CLAS delivered a statement in response to the Plan which can be found here: [create link pls – see in folder]
      2. James Hospedales, Board Member of the HCC, also attended the Directing Council in his capacity as Founder and Director of Earth Medic Earth Nurse, engaging with CARICOM Ministries of Health to maintain focus on the climate and health agenda.
      3. For more on the Directing Council visit PAHOs webpage here: https://www.paho.org/en/governance/directing-council/62nd-directing-council; and here: https://www.paho.org/en/news/2-10-2025-pahos-62nd-directing-council-concludes-new-strategic-plan-advance-health-americas
      4. Laura Pics to send via WhatsApp
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