Credits: MHaPP/UCT

Reply from the United Nation's General Secretary and Special Advisor

We propose three edits to the draft Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), Health Goal 3, which are fully aligned with the WHO Global Mental Health Action Plan 2013-2030: 

1. Edit the title: ‘Ensure healthy lives and promote physical and mental health and well-being for all at all ages.’
2. Edit target 3.4: ‘By 2030, reduce by one third preventable mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment in full accordance with the WHO Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases, and promote mental health and well-being in full accordance with the WHO Mental Health Action Plan 2013-2020.’
3. Edit target 3.8: ‘Achieve universal health coverage for physical and mental disorders, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services and access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all.’

Further, we propose two indicators, fully aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (UN SDSN) draft indicators:

1. Indicator 23: Probability of dying between exact ages 30 and 70 from any of cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, or suicide
2. Indicator 28: Proportion of persons with a severe mental disorder (psychosis, bipolar affective disorder, or moderate-severe depression) who are using services

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