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ses through preven�on and treatment and pro- find ourselves at an inflec�on point in human
mote mental health and well-being;” “Strengt- history. With five years remaining to achieve
hen the preven�on and treatment of substance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),
abuse, including narco�c drug abuse and harm- this report presents both a frank assessment of
ful use of alcohol;” and “Achieve universal he- our current posi�on and a compelling case for
alth coverage, including financial risk protec�- why the transforma�ve vision of the SDGs
on, access to quality essen�al health-care ser- remains not only relevant, but also cri�cal to
vices and access to safe, effec�ve, quality and our collec�ve future” (Introduc�on, page 3).
affordable essen�al medicines and vaccines for See the summary informa�on on pages 3-5 and
all.” For a discussion on the process and chal- 44-45. Note also the Human Flourishing Pro-
lenges of ge�ng mental health, these targets, gram and Study (Harvard Ins�tute for Quan�ta-
and quan�ta�ve measures (indicators) inclu- �ve Social Science, 2025).
ded in the 2030 Agenda, see Vortruba and
Thornicro� (2016). See also: Changing and Char�ng Our Course:
The United Na�ons Summit of the Future and
Update 2025: The United Na�ons Summit of Pact for the Future, Global Integra�on Update
the Future (United Na�ons 2024b), called for (Member Care Associates, September 2024);
by the UN Secretary-General in 2021 (Our Com- Perils, Paralysis, Hope: Sustainable Develop-
mon Agenda, United Na�ons, 2021) and conve- ment or Sustainable Destruc�on? Global Inte-
ned in September 2024, was a high-level event, gra�on Update (Member Care Associates, Oc-
“bringing world leaders together to forge a new tober 2022); and Thinking Cri�cally about Su-
interna�onal consensus on how we deliver a stainable Development, Global Integra�on Up-
be�er present and safeguard the future. Effec- date (Member Care Associates, February
�ve global coopera�on is increasingly cri�cal to 2022).
our survival but difficult to achieve in an atmo-
sphere of mistrust, using outdated structures Agenda 2: Comprehensive Mental Health Ac-
that no longer reflect today’s poli�cal and eco- �on Plan
nomic reali�es. This once-in-a-genera�on op- A second important document to help inform
portunity serves as a moment to mend eroded and guide MHPs is the World Health Organiza�-
trust and demonstrate that interna�onal co- on’s Mental Health Ac�on Plan 2013-2020
opera�on can effec�vely achieve agreed goals (WHO, 2013; updated in 2021). This widely en-
and tackle emerging threats and opportuni- dorsed Ac�on Plan is a founda�onal document
�es.” (United Na�ons, 2024c) for the global and na�onal development of
mental health. Mental health is extremely im-
The Summit’s main outcome document, the portant for sustainable development as it
Pact for the Future (2024a), builds upon and is affects and is affected by many crucial issues in-
understood in light of the 2030 Agenda for Su- cluding poverty, food security, trauma, conflict,
stainable Development. It is a non-binding interpersonal violence, terrorism, gender equa-
agreement which includes 56 “ac�on points” lity, educa�on, human security, natural disas-
organized into five areas: financing for develop- ters, and climate change. A recent es�mate is
ment; peace and security; science, technology, that over one billion people live with a mental
innova�on, and digital coopera�on; youth and disorder—the vast majority who receive li�le
future genera�ons; and global governance. It or no effec�ve care, especially those in low-
also includes two annexes: a Global Digital and middle-income countries ((WHO 2025d).
Compact and a Declara�on on Future Genera�- The Ac�on Plan’s overall goal is to “promote
ons. mental well-being, prevent mental disorders,
provide care, enhance recovery, promote hu-
Going further: The Sustainable Development man rights and reduce the mortality, morbidity
Goals Report 2025 (United Na�ons, 2025) ”As and disability for persons with mental disor-
we mark a decade since the adop�on of the ders” (p. 4). Its four main objec�ves are to:
2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, we “strengthen effec�ve leadership and gover-
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