Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health conditions have a profound impact on societies, communities and individuals around the world. Their risk factors and determinants extend beyond the traditional health sector. Addressing this complex challenge necessitates interventions that reach beyond the boundaries of public health and requires a coherent, coordinated approach across all relevant governmental sectors. Understanding, documenting and sharing how governments implement multisectoral actions are essential to overcome these challenges and identify the capacity needs for coherent and sustainable responses to NCDs and mental health. In 2019, WHO Member States requested the Director-General to provide a consolidated report to the World Health Assembly analysing approaches to multisectoral action for NCD prevention and control, including addressing social, economic and environmental determinants of health. This compendium report is the Secretariat’s response to that request and features case studies from countries across WHO’s six regions.

"This report sets out the statistics, evidence and experiences needed to launch a more forceful response to the growing threat posed by noncommunicable diseases. While advice and recommendations are universally relevant, the report gives particular attention to conditions in low- and middle-income countries, which now bear nearly 80% of the burden from diseases like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer and chronic respiratory diseases. The health consequences of the worldwide epidemic of obesity are also addressed. The report takes an analytical approach, using global, regional and country-specific data to document the magnitude of the problem, project future trends, and assess the factors contributing to these trends. As noted, the epidemic of these diseases is being driven by forces now touching every region of the world: demographic aging, rapid unplanned urbanization, and the globalization of unhealthy lifestyles"--Publisher's description.