WHO Launches First Global Guide for Mental Health in Neglected Tropical Disease Care

A major health crisis extends beyond physical symptoms. The World Health Organization warns that millions living with Neglected Tropical Diseases face profound, unseen suffering. This stems from severe social stigma, discrimination, and untreated mental health conditions.
Marking World NTD Day, WHO calls for urgent integration of mental health care into disease elimination. The rallying theme is “Unite. Act. Eliminate.” The goal is to ensure no one is left behind in pain or isolation from their communities.

A Dual Burden of Disease and Stigma

More than one billion people worldwide are affected by NTDs. Those with conditions causing visible disfigurement, like leprosy or lymphatic filariasis, are especially vulnerable. Misconceptions about contagion deepen social exclusion and discrimination.
Consequently, people with chronic NTDs experience higher rates of depression and anxiety. Their risk of suicidal behavior is elevated compared to the general population. Yet, most do not receive the mental health support they desperately need.
“True elimination means freeing people not only from the disease, but from the shame, isolation, and despair,” said WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

A First-of-its-Kind Global Guide

To address this gap, WHO launched its first global guide on an Essential Care Package. It provides health leaders with evidence-based strategies for a holistic approach to care.
The guide outlines interventions for promoting good mental health. It also covers identifying and assessing conditions in NTD patients. Furthermore, it details managing treatment and crucially, reducing stigma at individual, community, and health system levels.

Historic Gains at Risk Amid Funding Cuts

Progress against NTDs has been significant. The number of people needing interventions has fallen to 1.4 billion, a historic low. To date, 58 countries have eliminated at least one NTD.
However, a severe funding decline threatens to reverse these hard-won gains. Global development assistance for NTDs fell by 41% between 2018 and 2023. This is despite a strong economic case, with every $1 invested in prevention yielding about $25 in return.
Without renewed action and leadership, NTDs will continue to extract a heavy human and economic toll. World NTD Day is a global call to safeguard progress, mobilize funding, and integrate mental health into the core response.