WPA statement 2025, by Professor Danuta Wasserman, to be presented at the WHO 78th World Health Assembly, Geneva, Switzerland, May 19 – 27 2025

One of the greatest health threats in the world are the growing number of brain and mental disorders, commonly called neurological and psychiatric disorders.
They account for 522 and 258 million disabilities adjusted life years (DALYs), respectively. This is more than the burden of cancer (260 million DALYs) and cardiovascular diseases (402 million DALYs).
There is a high comorbidity between neurological conditions and psychiatric disorders, with common psychosocial risk factors, such as lifestyle choices, social isolation, poverty and discrimination.
As the WHO has global brain health and mental health plans, a strategy should be worked out on how to take advantage of exsiting services, working under a unifing goal of intergral brain health.