WHO: Mental Health Key to Eliminating Neglected Tropical Diseases | World NTD Day 2026
Millions worldwide living with neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) face a hidden burden alongside their illness: profound discrimination, social stigma, and untreated mental health challenges. Marking World NTD Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) is urging governments and communities to address these often-overlooked aspects of these debilitating conditions, emphasizing that true elimination requires not just treating the disease, but likewise dismantling the shame and isolation it can create.
The Weight of Stigma and Mental Health
More than one billion people globally are affected by NTDs, a diverse group of 20 conditions that thrive in tropical climates and impact impoverished communities disproportionately. A similar number of people worldwide also experience mental health conditions. However, individuals affected by NTDs that cause visible impairments or disfigurement – such as cutaneous leishmaniasis, leprosy, lymphatic filariasis, mycetoma, and noma – are particularly vulnerable to the damaging effects of stigma, and discrimination. These conditions, often rooted in misconceptions about contagion and infection, can lead to social exclusion and significantly worsen mental wellbeing.
Research consistently demonstrates that people living with chronic NTDs experience higher rates of depression, anxiety, and even suicidal thoughts compared to the general population and those with other chronic illnesses. Despite this increased need, access to mental health care and support within affected communities remains woefully inadequate. The WHO’s Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, powerfully stated, “The fight against neglected tropical diseases is not only a fight against pathogens, it’s a fight against the profound human suffering they cause. True elimination means freeing people not only from the disease, but from the shame, isolation, and despair that too often accompany it.”
A New Guide to Integrated Care
To address this critical gap, the WHO recently launched its first global guide on essential care packages to address mental health and stigma for persons with neglected tropical diseases. This guide is designed to equip health service leaders with evidence-based interventions focused on four key areas:
- Promoting good mental health
- Identifying and assessing mental health conditions in people living with NTDs
- Managing and treating mental health conditions
- Reducing stigma at the individual, community, and health systems levels
The guide represents a significant step towards integrating mental health support into existing NTD elimination programs, recognizing that holistic care is essential for achieving lasting impact. It acknowledges that addressing the psychological and social consequences of these diseases is just as important as providing medical treatment.
Progress at Risk: Declining Funding Threatens Gains
The World NTD Day campaign, spearheaded by the WHO and a broad coalition of partners, highlights the remarkable progress made in combating these diseases over the past decade. The number of people requiring NTD interventions has fallen to a historic low of 1.4 billion, accompanied by substantial reductions in mortality and morbidity. As of today, 58 countries have successfully eliminated at least one NTD, demonstrating that elimination is an achievable goal. Nations like Brazil, Jordan, Niger, and Fiji have served as inspiring examples of success.
However, this momentum is now threatened by a concerning trend: a significant decline in global official development assistance (ODA) for NTDs. The Global Report on Neglected Tropical Diseases 2025 reveals a 41% decrease in ODA between 2018 and 2023. This reduction jeopardizes the hard-won gains and risks reversing progress towards elimination targets.
This decline is particularly alarming when considering the economic benefits of investing in NTD control. Every US$1 invested in preventive chemotherapy is estimated to yield a return of approximately US$25. Without renewed funding and commitment, NTDs will continue to impose a substantial economic burden, costing affected families and communities an estimated US$33 billion annually in lost wages and out-of-pocket expenses.
Beyond Treatment: Addressing Root Causes
The challenge extends beyond simply providing medication or treatment. Addressing the stigma associated with NTDs requires a multifaceted approach that tackles deeply ingrained misconceptions and promotes understanding within communities. Education campaigns, community-based support groups, and the involvement of people with lived experience are crucial components of this effort.
strengthening health systems to integrate mental health services is paramount. This includes training healthcare workers to recognize and respond to mental health needs, ensuring access to affordable and culturally appropriate care, and promoting policies that protect the rights and dignity of people affected by NTDs. The WHO guide provides a framework for achieving this integration, offering practical tools and strategies for health service leaders.
The Path Forward: Collaboration and Commitment
World NTD Day serves as a powerful call to action, urging the global community to safeguard past progress, mobilize new funding and leadership, accelerate innovation, and integrate health services – including mental health – into NTD responses. The campaign invites individuals to explore stories of resilience and country-led successes on the World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day 2026 page.
eliminating NTDs requires a collective commitment to addressing not only the biological aspects of these diseases, but also the social, economic, and psychological factors that perpetuate their impact. By uniting to act, we can create a world where everyone has the opportunity to live a healthy, dignified, and stigma-free life.
Looking ahead, the WHO will continue to monitor progress towards NTD elimination targets, assess the impact of funding shortfalls, and provide technical support to countries implementing national programs. Regular updates to the Global Report on Neglected Tropical Diseases will track key indicators and identify emerging challenges. Continued research is also needed to develop new tools and strategies for preventing, diagnosing, and treating NTDs, as well as for addressing the mental health and stigma associated with these conditions.